THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress in the state will get into the election mode with party president Rahul Gandhi addressing 24,974 booth committee presidents and an equal number of women vice-presidents in Ernakulam on Tuesday.
He will also hold bilateral talks with the UDF allies at Government Guest House, Ernakulam, after visiting the family members of former KPCC working president, M. I. Shahnavas who died recently.
AICC general secretary in-charge of the state, Mukul Wasnik, who was on a visit to the state, returned to New Delhi after talks with 14 DCC leaders on the probable candidates for 20 Lok Sabha constituencies.
The KPCC had issued a circular to all the 14 DCC presidents that in each booth committee, out of the two vice-presidents, one should be a woman. This was sent by working president Kodikunnil Suresh after Mr Ramachandran took over as PCC chief. Out of three secretaries, one should be an SC/ST in a 15-member executive in each booth committee.
But initially, only 60 percent of women vice-presidents were appointed under the 'My booth, my pride' slogan.
Mr Kodikunnil told DC that the drive was continuing after the deadline set by the AICC expired.
"Currently, we have formed 80 percent of the booth committees with the appointment of women vice-presidents. Several booths are weak in the CPM and BJP strongholds. The remaining 20 percent women leaders who may be appointed as vice-presidents are likely to attend Tuesday's meeting which would motivate them further," he said.
Congress leaders claimed that Mr Rahul Gandhi will not hold talks on their candidature.
He may call the top leaders to New Delhi after the first list is ratified. Only after a week, the KPCC will approve the final list.
