THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: V. M. Sudheeran’s resignation was a surprise to many but the outgoing KPCC president acted smart knowing well that his job was at stake once party vice-president Rahul Gandhi got back to his routine after the assembly elections in five states. DC had reported on Wednesday that Mr Gandhi had plans to remove all the PCC chiefs if the results in the elections gave some positive signs on the revival of the party’s fortunes in the north. Many Congress leaders vouch that Mr Sudheeran was convinced that he would not be able to continue in the post with majority of the leaders pitting against him.
Mr Gandhi is expected to be in Kochi on April 8 where he will be attending the convention of the party’s booth and mandalam committee presidents. Though Mr Sudheeran had himself realised that it would be ideal to call it quits rather than clinging on, he was hurt when senior Congress MLA K. C. Joseph spoke at former G. Karthikeyan’s second death anniversary commemoration that the party’s decision and the sentiments of party workers were to see Karthikeyan as KPCC president. Leaders close to Mr Sudheeran told DC that this comment was like a last straw to him.
“Mr Joseph should have avoided making such a statement on a public platform,” said a Congress MLA. “He went on to add that if GK was the PCC chief, UDF Government would have continued in power. The next day, former chief minister Oommen Chandy held closed door talks with senior Congress leader A. K. Antony where the former reminded him of his earlier demand to hold organisational elections and to oust Sudheeran.” Mr Sudheeran has told his close confidants that he required three weeks to recover from the injuries he suffered in the ribs after a fall in Kozhikode last week.
