THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress legislator K. Muraleedharan who is on an indefinite fast before the Law Academy is now feeling the heat as V. M. Sudheeran and Ramesh Chennithala feared him outsmarting them. Neither the Congress nor the Youth Congress leaders are there to support to Mr Muraleedharan and the duo's role is limited to 'sound bytes' to television channels instead of mobilising cadres.
Though students have been on the warpath for the past 25 days, the Congress joined them only last week, and the local legislator began his indefinite fast on Thursday. Initially, he had a wait-and-watch policy expecting protests to end soon. But the BJP, his immediate rival in the last elections, was hijacking the strike launched by pro-UDF outfits. All the three senior leaders, including former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, had visited him at the venue in solidarity since. "But the other two are scared of Mr Muraleedharan grabbing the limelight,” said a leader.
No Congress outfits, except KSU, is with him as senior leaders are afraid of the former KPCC president emerging stronger. “Youth Congress state president Dean Kuriakose keeps coming up with statements which have already been criticised by senior leader A. K. Antony. Only those leaders who are closer to Mr Muraleedharan are providing support,” said a KPCC general secretary.
