THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former chief minister Oommen Chandy was absent at 'Jan Aakrosh Rally' at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi on Sunday. He was busy with the local festivities at Puthuppally St. George Orthodox Church and cited health issues. Now rumours are rife that there is pressure from the AICC on him to take up the reins of the party in Kerala. Leaders from the state had made a beeline to Delhi to the much-hyped first-ever political rally of Rahul Gandhi after assuming office.
But Mr Chandy stayed away citing inconvenience and instead got busy with the Virakideel (firewood is collected and brought in ceremonial procession to the church to provide meals to the devotees on the main feast day) ceremony. A top Congress leader close to him, who also skipped the show of strength, said there was no point in going all the way to Delhi when Congress leaders from across the country were there.
"Even if Mr Chandy and company did not attend, the protest march and the public meeting happened without any hindrance. What we came to know is that many leaders from Kerala could not enter the venue as it was already crowded," he told DC. He also added that there is enough pressure on Mr Chandy to take up the KPCC president post as Mr Gandhi is aware of his popularity. KPCC president M. M. Hassan had stayed back in Delhi on Monday and was busy holding talks with AICC leaders. Recently, Mr Gandhi had brought Mr Chandy to Delhi and heard his views on the next KPCC president.
He raised two demands - Mr Hassan should be allowed to continue until the Chengannur by-election and age should not be a criterion for his replacement. A Congress source also confirmed to DC that it is going to be either Mr Chandy or Mullappally Ramachandran MP who had done a commendable job as the central election authority chairman. At the same time, MPs K. V. Thomas and Kodikunnil Suresh, MLAs K. Muraleedharan and V. D. Satheesan and high power Political Affairs Committee members Benny Behanan and K. Sudhakaran are also in the race.
