If decisions are taken unilaterally without consulting the party, things will slip out of hand after a point: M.M. Hassan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader and former KPCC president M.M. Hassan has called for better coordination between the Congress party and the UDF government, warning that taking decisions without consultation can backfire. Speaking on Kaumudi TV’s “Straight Line” interview programme, Hassan said clear opinion-building and mutual consultation on every issue are essential within the party. The absence of such discussions, he said, is a weakness of the party.

“If decisions are taken unilaterally without consulting the party, things will slip out of hand after a point,” Hassan cautioned.

He recalled the crises the party faced in the past when K. Karunakaran was Chief Minister and participation and consultation in decision-making had dwindled. According to Hassan, party leaders can feel a “sense of involvement” in government decisions only if there is proper communication between the two sides. He stressed that a party-government coordination committee is “absolutely necessary” to strengthen this communication.

Hassan also said he fully agrees with BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s view that protests should not block public roads. He urged the state government to bring in a law for this purpose.

The Congress leader said the style of protests held in front of the Secretariat should also be given up, and recalled that he had earlier staged a fast on the issue.

“The days of protests that trouble the public are over. Blocking roads has become uncivilised. The V.D. Satheesan government should take the initiative to make Putharikkandam the designated venue for protests," he said.