Mullapally Ramachandran to hold talks with Rahul Gandhi on party rejig

Thiruvananthapuram: Moves are afoot in the KPCC for a revamping of the party even as it hopes to record a thumping win in the Lok Sabha elections in the state. KPCC president Mullapally Ramachandran will hold talks with party president Rahul Gandhi and other AICC leaders in Delhi on Wednesday. The revamping was put off earlier due to the objections raised by the two group leaders, AICC general secretary Oommen Chandy and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala. Mr Mullapally now wants to kickstart the talks during the interregnum before the election results are announced on May 23.

Mr Mullapally favours a 24-member committee instead of the existing jumbo committee. Mr Chennithala is in the US and Mr Chandy is on voice rest in his home here till next week. Mr Mullapally said that efficiency will be the criterion for including anyone in the KPCC.

"Those who have proved their mettle in party programmes will be given priority. The post of vice-presidents will be avoided," said Mr Mullapally.

The post of working president that fell vacant due to the demise of M. I. Shanavas will be filled. If incumbent working presidents, K. Sudhakaran and Kodikunnil Suresh, win from Kannur and Mavelikara respectively, their posts will also have to be filled.

Usually, the KPCC posts are shared between the two factions. But this time, leaders like Mullapally and former KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran have been batting for neutral leaders without affinity to a particular faction.

"If the Congress wins more than 16 Lok Sabha seats, the Congress leaders may try to thwart the revamping. The party has become weak in several constituencies that may affects its prospects in the elections to the local bodies and the Assembly," said a KPCC general secretary.