THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the Chengannur debacle has led to rumblings and soul-searching in the state Congress, AICC president Rahul Gandhi has sought an explanation from the leaders who have been summoned to New Delhi. A day after former KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran lashed out at group politics, Congress mouthpiece Veekshanam triggered a controversy by berating the leaders for factionalism. Mr Rahul Gandhi who is expected back from the US on Tuesday will hold talks with KPCC president M. M. Hassan, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala, former chief minister Oommen Chandy and Mr K. Muraleedharan MLA on Wednesday and Thursday on the party revamping.
AICC sources told DC that Mr Rahul Gandhi had cancelled his planned visit to Chhattisgarh to discuss the Kerala affairs. A new KPCC president would be announced before June 15 after the AICC-level discussions. The state leaders, who attended the 61st anniversary celebrations of the KSU at Indira Bhavan here on Saturday, expressed their disappointment over the Chengannur verdict. Mr Chandy said all are equally responsible for the debacle.
“The leaders worked hard for the victory of the Congress candidate, but we should find out the reasons for the defeat,” said Mr Chandy who has been recently appointed as the AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh.
Mr Chennithala said that the CPM need not feel proud about the victory because their sins cannot be washed away with a win. “The CPM misused power and resources in Chengannur. I take the responsibility for the Congress candidate’s defeat, but there is also individual responsibility as the UDF had worked unitedly,” he said.
In the last 12 years, the Congress had not lost a by-election, he said and added that the Congress would rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Mr Hassan asked the rivals to realise that in the last nine by-elections, the UDF had emerged victorious. “Once, E.M.S. Nampoo-thiripad, the first chief minister of the state, ridiculed the Congress party saying it was only fit to sit in a corner. But we proved him wrong,” he said. The Veekshanam editorial hit out at the party leaders saying that the organisational revamp had been half-baked. Mr Hassan washed his hands of the editorial citing that it is not the party’s stand. But he has sought an inquiry into it.
