THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC acting president M. M. Hassan, who assumed charge on Sunday, is faced with a number of pressing issues like the Malappuram Lok Sabha by-election and the organisational elections which have not been held for over 25 years. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections also stare at him. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy and his ‘A’ group have been demanding party elections though many senior leaders are apprehensive of them. Mr Hassan has said that one of his priorities will be organisational elections.
The decision by Mr Mullapally Ramachandran, AICC chairman of the election authority, will be crucial for holding the polls in 29 states and seven union territories. He was firm on the elections during a meeting of the political affairs committee recently. “The party elections may not happen in another six months as the AICC cannot hold them in Kerala alone. Hassan will continue as KPCC president as per Chandy’s script,” said a KPCC general secretary. The Congress leadership is also faced with the task of arresting the growth of the BJP in the state.
Earlier, the senior leadership comprising former KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran, Chandy and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala was soft towards the BJP. But senior Congress leader A.K. Antony had shared his anxiety over it. “The immediate task before Hassan is to ensure the victory of IUML leader P. K. Kunhalikutty in the Malappuram by-election. The 65, 000 votes gained by the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Malappuram should be reduced this time,” said a senior Congress leader.
