PCC chief put the govt on defense: Chief Minister
A K Anthony. (Photo: DC/File)
Thiruvananthapuram: Several Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, took up the liquor row with AICC working committee member A. K. Antony here on Wednesday. Mr Chandy reportedly expressed his displeasure over the happenings in the party on the issue. Mr Antony suggested that the differences between the party and the government should be settled amicably. He told reporters after the meeting with Mr Chandy that the current controversy was a storm in the tea cup.
Mr Chandy told Mr Antony that some of the views of PCC chief V. M. Sudheeran had put the government on the defensive. He said the coordination between the government and the party was lost when a section of Congress leaders tried to portray the government as leaning towards the liquor lobby. This had created a crisis, he told Mr Antony.
Mr Antony said his talks with the leaders were routine. “I am part of the state Congress even if I am in New Delhi. None should expect to see any rift in the Congress here. There are capable leaders in the KPCC who can solve the issues and the problems have been solved. The credit goes to everyone, including the Congress, UDF, CM and the public on the liquor policy decision,” he said.
Congress leaders, including Moovattu-puzha MLA Joseph Vazhakkan, KPCC general secretary K. P. Anil Kumar, spokesperson Rajmohan Unnithan and KPCC secretary Johnson Abraham met Mr Antony at the KPCC office here. Sources said that Mr Antony would come up with a set of recommendations for the smooth functioning of the government and the party.
Mr Vazhakkan told Mr Antony that a section of leaders had tried to damage the image of the government. Mr Anil Kumar said that when the general public, including women, had welcomed the liquor policy, the controversy had taken the sheen away. Mr Unnithan said it was unfortunate that a top KPCC leader himself tried to sabotage the decision taken by the KPCC general body not to reopen the closed 418 bars.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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