Thiruvananthapuram: The ‘A’ group is sitting pretty in the five committees announced by the AICC to manage the Lok Sabha elections in Kerala, creating resentment in the ‘I’ camp. ‘A’ group leader and CWC member Oommen Chandy has ensured the representation of more youth and women in committees like co-ordination, election campaign, publicity and media co-ordination.
“Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala had given a letter to the high command against party revamping before the elections. Now Chenni-thala is being looked upon as a villain by those who wanted the party rejig,” said a Congress leader. Mr Chandy has gauged the mood of party president Rahul Gandhi and his team who want more youth and women leaders in the committees. Earlier, Mr Chandy had preferred experienced hands.
‘A’ group loyalist and former KSU president V. S. Joy has been given a key post as convener in the campaign committee headed by K. Muraleed-haran MLA. Another loyalist, P. S. Prasanth, Thiruvananthapuram DCC vice-president, is the convener of the publicity committee headed by V. S. Sivakumar MLA.
The elevation of Sivak-umar has not pleased the ‘I’ group itself. Apart from heading the publicity committee, Sivakumar is in the election and co-ordination committees. Former MLA Palode Ravi, a loyalist of the ‘A’ group, heads the media co-ordination committee and is also in the 58- member election co-ordination committee.
