THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The crucial high power Political Affairs Committee of the KPCC, mired in mudslinging, is meeting here at 3 pm on Monday. If earlier the main agenda of the meeting was the poll debacle in Chengannur, now the focus has turned on gifting the Rajya Sabha seat to Kerala Congress (Mani). But, AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Oommen Chandy who is in the eye of the storm over the row will be away in that state. KPCC president M. M. Hassan had earlier said a meeting of office-bearers would follow the next day - both to discuss the defeat in detail.
But now the rank and file are more interested in how the leadership will overcome the crisis that has grappled the party. At the 21-member PAC, all eyes are going to be on reactions of RS deputy chairman P. J. Kurien who failed to retain his seat. V. M. Sudheeran, Mr Hassan's predecessor who presided over the party's worst defeat in 2016 reducing to just 22 legislators, is also combat-ready. But a PAC member said since these two had already expressed their displeasure, the man to be watched out is P. C. Chacko.
“Mr Chacko was almost sure to get the seat, and he had offered his resignation from the AICC steering member in charge of Delhi in protest," he told DC. "Mr Mani should be taken back to the UDF. But there's a system to follow, and they should have discussed it in the PAC.” Rahul Gandhi had constituted the committee in the line of CPM’s politburo where major policy decisions are made. But the PAC met rarely, and a majority of its members feel betrayed by the KC (M) and the Muslim League. Another senior member said the panel had lost its relevance with the KPCC leadership ignoring it while taking crucial decisions.
“Mr Chandy, Mr Chennithala and Mr Hassan live in an ivory tower and take unilateral decisions," he told DC. K. C. Joseph MLA, another PAC member, said Mr Chandy would be leaving for Andhra Pradesh on Monday morning. “He tried to postpone the meeting in Andhra, but already leaders there had made arrangements," he told DC. "It would have been good if he had attended the PAC and defended his position.”
