Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader A. K. Antony has cautioned the partymen against infighting during the organisational polls and wanted that fresh faces should be given opportunities. Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the state-level membership campaign, he said that leaders should be chosen through consensus. “When organisational elections are held within two months, new faces and youth leaders should be preferred,” said Mr Antony.
Mr Antony and his wife Elizabeth were given membership by KPCC president M. M. Hassan at the former’s house at Anjanam. Regarding the appointment of a new KPCC president, Mr Antony said the party already had a president and added, “there is no dispute over the election of a new chief.” He congratulated AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal and AICC secretary P.C. Vishnunath for their new posts. It is a challenge for the leaders in charge of Karnataka where Assembly polls will be held next year, he said.
Mr Antony has always stood behind women, youth and fresh faces in the party. But they are sidelined during elections. Alappuzha DCC president M. Liju told DC that compared to other political parties, Congress was way ahead in giving opportunities to youths. “The majority of committees now have a sizable section of youth leaders. A few leaders between the ages of 35 - 40 are neither here nor there. But in the organisational restructuring, they would be accommodated,” he said. Another KPCC general secretary said that only those who are attached to groups get priority.
