THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Aspirants are out in the open staking a claim to the post of the Congress party chief in Kerala, vacated by V.M. Sudheeran. They include KPCC vice-president Lally Vincent and former Kannur MP K. Sudhakaran, and legislator P.T. Thomas. Congress MLAs K. Muraleedharan and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan have made it clear that they were not in the race. Mr Muraleedharan favoured a new person capable of leading the party "above and beyond any group" to avoid a repeat of Uttar Pradesh.
“There will be group only if there is a party. There should be a strong leadership to save the party. Mr Sudheeran had tried to lead the party, but there were some setbacks,” he said. Asked if he would take up the responsibility, he quipped, “I had served the post once and had done all I could. Now let new people come.” Search for a new chief would begin once Congress president Sonia Gandhi is back from the US early next week, he added. Mr Sudhakaran also said the new chief should be able to revive and enlighten the youth and that he doesn't mind taking up the reins.
“I can say that the new appointment will come in two days if the AICC leadership decides on a temporary president after reaching a consensus,” he said. Ms Vincent said it would be nice if a woman comes at the top for the first time. In all likelihood, former chief minister Oommen Chandy is likely to take up the challenge and lead the party to the organisational elections. If he refuses, the mantle could fall on P. T. Thomas, K. V. Thomas MP or former MLA Benny Behanan. Mr Sudheeran cautioned his colleagues while inaugurating the booth convention at his locality at Kannammoola here on Sunday that the aspirants need not compete.
