THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The KPCC leadership held hectic parleys with JD (U) State president M. P. Veerendra Kumar at Cliff House late evening today. Veerendra Kumar reportedly got a promise from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy that he would take quick action on the basis of the UDF sub-committee report which probed the poll debacle in Palakkad.
After the meeting, Chandy told reporters that all the issues would be solved and JD (U) would stay with the UDF. The UDF sub-committee report will be submitted to the CM on May 9. Veerendra Kumar expressed happiness with the Congress leadership rallying behind him.
As a prelude to the meeting, the Congress leadership comprising Chief Minister, KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran, Home minister Ramesh Chennithala and UDF convener P. P. Thankachan were closeted at the KPCC office. But Veerendra Kumar expressed displeasure on Thankachan’s statement that the sub-committee members' meeting would be held again.
There were reports earlier that Veerendra Kumar was firm in his demand that stringent action be taken against Palakkad DCC president and two DCC secretaries.
Earlier in the day, Veerendra Kumar held talks with Home minister Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran separately.
The first meeting took place at Chennithala’s home where he told reporters that in the last four years of the UDF ministry, JD (U) had not created any ‘headache’ for the front.
“There is no question of having two opinions in the case of the JD (U) staying put in the UDF. Veerendra Kumar’s political demands have to be considered with due importance and it will be seen in the right perspective by the UDF. The political issues raised would be discussed with the CM and KPCC president today itself”, said Chennithala.
Veerendra Kumar clarified that contrary to rumours, the meetings held were neither to get any positions in the front nor for any undue favours.
He said what was discussed were only political issues. “It was the UDF which decided to form the sub-committee to probe the defeat of the Palakkad Lok Sabha candidate.
The UDF convener who is heading the sub-committee has already prepared the report. I am happy that Chennithala has agreed to submit the report to the CM without making any changes in the findings”, said Veerendra Kumar.
But UDF sources told DC that Veerendra Kumar had demanded a Rajya Sabha seat when the next vacancy arose in April next year. Senior Congress leader A. K. Antony, CPM’s K. N. Balagopal and T. N. Seema’s tenure will be over by April 2016.
Later in the afternoon, Veerendra Kumar called on Sudheeran at the KPCC office. Sudheeran said JD (U) is an essential ally of the UDF and whatever issues the senior UDF leader had raised would be considered.
