THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Top state Congress leaders, former chief minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala dashed off to New Delhi to hold discussions with the high command on strengthening the party following the debacle in Assembly elections.
The three leaders are scheduled to meet Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday. Both Mr Sudheeran and Mr Chennithala have stated that they would convey the popular sentiment prevailing in the party about bringing in Mr Chandy as UDF chairman.
Though the former CM declined to accept any post as a penance for the huge defeat in Assembly polls, both leaders are confident that he will change his stand if the high command intervened. Mr Chennithala told this newspaper that the meeting with the Congress vice president was aimed at strengthening the party. “Last week I met Rahul and apprised him about the organisational matters,” he said.
When asked about the serious differences among Sudheeran and himself on organisational issues and the need for unity, Mr Chennithala said, “It is not just the three of us, but the entire Congress community has to join hands to strengthen the party. This is the need of the hour.”
He refused to comment on reports regarding leadership. “I am not aware of such developments,” Mr Chennithala said and added that the entire focus is on strengthening the party. Chennithala said the Congress would play the role of constructive opposition during the next five years and raise people’s issues.
“Yes we have suffered a setback in the polls. Congress is a party with mass base and it will come back strongly soon. We will work in a systematic way and our next big challenge is 2019 Lok Sabha polls,” he added.
