Thiruvananthapuram: Mr M.M. Hassan, 69, the senior-most KPCC vice-president, has been made the acting president in place of Mr V.M. Sudheeran, who quit the post two weeks ago. A one-liner released by AICC organising general secretary Janardan Dwivedi in New Delhi on Saturday announced Mr Hassan’s appointment. “M. M. Hassan, presently the vice-president of KPCC, will hold the charge of president of the Pradesh Congress with immediate effect till a regular PCC president is appointed,” said Mr Dwivedi.
Mr Hassan, strongman of the dominant ‘A’ group, who was in Malappuram campaigning for the UDF candidate for the Lok Sabha by-election, will take charge at Indira Bhavan here at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Mr Hassan’s appointment came a day after Congress president Sonia Gandhi returned from the US after her medical treatment. AICC secretary in charge of the State, Mukul Wasnik had held talks with AICC vice- president Rahul Gandhi on the panel of names, including former chief minister Oommen Chandy, MPs K. V. Thomas and K. C. Venugopal and KPCC vice- president V. D. Satheesan.
Mr Hassan welcomed his appointment and said his immediate priority was to steer the party ahead without factionalism. “I will discharge my duties that have been bestowed on me by the AICC leadership. The need of the hour is to have unity in the party,” said Mr Hassan. The ‘A’ group had insisted on making Mr Hassan the acting chief after Mr Chandy expressed his unwillingness to take over. Though Mr Satheesan’s name was also considered, the mantle fell on Mr Hassan considering his seniority. “Still there is no idea when the organizational elections will be held,” said a top AICC leader. The elections have not been held for more than 25 years.
