Thiruvananthapuram: KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran has publicly rebuked MLAs for not attending the recent Raj Bhavan march against the Rafale deal.
He also sought an explanation from the Thiruvananthapuram DCC as per the directive of the AICC on the defeat in Navaikulam byelection where Congress candidate came third after holding the seat for more than three decades.
Local Congress leader Varkala Kahar informed the KPCC that it was the party's stand on the Sabarimala issue that boomeranged.
V. T. Balram, Shafi Parambil, Anwar Sadath, Hibi Eden and Roji M. John were conspicuous by their absence in the Raj Bhavan march. Only Aruvikkara MLA K. S. Sabarinadhan was there.
"It's the party which is of paramount importance. All the leaders should realise that the AICC is closely monitoring their activities," Mr Ramachandran said addressing DCC office-bearers.
He said any Congress leader who has got self-respect would attend the protest marches on Oct 15 at the district levels demanding the resignation of excise minister T. P. Ramakrishnan over the brewery–distillery scam.
A party source told DC that he’s contemplating a criterion among the party MLAs, MPs and office bearers that they should be attending the party programmes.
Mr Balram said he had programmes in his constituency, Thrithala, in Palakkad where his party programmes were finalised almost two weeks in advance.
“The same party has entrusted me with responsibilities where I had to be in my constituency on the same day as the Raj Bhavan march," he told DC.
"I finished attending a protest meeting against the Rafale deal in Malappuram just now.”
Angamaly MLA Roji John said he had informed the Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala’s office that he'd be away in New Delhi to attend an NSUI meeting.
“I was there at the Thiruvananthapuram airport to welcome the president on his arrival. But on the day of the march, I had to be in New Delhi as an NSUI office-bearer,” he told DC.
