Congress won't ditch MLA M Vincent until proven guilty

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress office-bearers’ meeting here on Tuesday decided to politically support Kovalam MLA  M. Vincent.  Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, who did not attend the meeting,  has rallied behind Mr Vincent as he is attached to the  ‘A’ camp.  KPCC president M. M. Hassan also refused to ditch him until he is proved guilty. “After  I  stepped down as  parliamentary party leader, I have not attended the KPCC office-bearers’ meetings,” Mr Chandy said.  “The   removal of Vincent from the post of KPCC secretary was a normal action,”  he  said. There were rumours that Mr Chandy  stayed away from the meeting in protest against the suspension of Mr Vincent.

Mahila Congress president Bindu Krishna and KPCC general secretary Lathika Subhash  had spoken against him following his arrest. However, they said they will abide by the party decision.  Ms Shanimol Usman, the lone member in the  Political Affairs Committee, did not attend  the meeting. She had  openly demanded  that Mr Vincent should step down from all the posts. Many leaders opposed Mr Vincent’s suspension.   In response to  ‘I’ group leader Joseph Vazhakkan’s query,  Mr Hassan said it  was a collective decision taken by  Mr Chandy, Mr Chennithala and himself.  Later,  Mr Hassan told reporters that there was a conspiracy behind his arrest and alleged that the jail authorities were told in advance about the arrest of a VIP.