Heads may roll as poll probe begins

As the KPCC sub-committees held its sittings in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha, a plethora of adverse comments has come out against them for underperforming and rebel candidature in local bodies elections.

KPCC vice-president V. D. Satheeshan, who started the process in Kollam, has hinted of taking stern action against Kollam DCC leadership. Mr Satheesan told reporters in Kollam that DCC president V Sathyaseelan has come under flak for candidate selection. “There will be stringent action against the Kollam DCC leadership,” he said. “We will enquire as to how the Congress candidates lost the party symbol in the fray.”

At the sitting in Thiruvananthapuram DCC, KPCC treasurer Johnson Abraham received 198 complaints from party leaders over rebel candidature and Congress being relegated to the third position in the district.

Health Minister V S Sivakumar, KPCC general secretary Thampanoor Ravi and DCC president Karakulam Krishna Pillai have already come under the flak on candidature and rebel candidates in the fray.

KPCC vice-president N Peethambara Kurup and general secretary A Saratchandra Prasad headed the sub-committees in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta, respectively.

Congress sources told DC that DCC leaderships have come under the flak of the sub-committees. The outcome of their report will be evaluated in the four-day brainstorming session of the KPCC beginning on Monday.

The KPCC executive had formally decided to revamp the party only at the lower level before the Assembly elections due in April. DCC presidents would not be removed but with the sub-committee report coming against several of them, it is to be seen whether KPCC leadership will stick to its words or not.