Adoor Prakash to approach high command tomorrow over complaints against Satheesan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: UDF convener Adoor Prakash will approach the Congress high command on Monday with his complaint that Chief Minister V D Satheesan is taking decisions unilaterally without consulting the party or the UDF. He is expected to travel to Delhi and submit a letter to the central leadership. However, a resolution to the issue is likely to take some time. Prakash may also meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in person.

There has been criticism that Chief Minister V D Satheesan has followed this style of functioning since the government came to power. There are also reports that more leaders may approach the high command with similar complaints. The Prakash camp has called for a government-party coordination committee. AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Deepa Dasmunsi, had also criticised the lack of coordination between the government and the party at the recent Political Affairs Committee meeting. Dasmunsi has been in communication with Adoor Prakash.

Those supporting V D Satheesan, meanwhile, describe the developments as a coordinated move against the Chief Minister. They allege that Adoor Prakash made his public criticism with the support of leaders including Deepa Dasmunsi. They do not accept Prakash’s claim that he acted on his own. They have also dismissed K C Venugopal’s claim that he had no role in the developments. According to this group, the move is the first step towards an attempt to bring down the government. They also argue that Prakash’s public criticism amounts to a breach of party discipline. They are expected to convey this position if the high command seeks their views.

Deepa Dasmunsi is also expected to submit a report to the high command. AICC organisational general secretary K C Venugopal said there were some minor issues within the party, but they would not escalate and would be resolved through discussions. Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan also said differences were normal in politics and that the issue was not serious. Meanwhile, the group opposed to V D Satheesan has begun efforts to bring along Kerala Congress leaders who are unhappy over the delay in taking a decision on a Cabinet-rank position for the party, even after the IUML’s demand was accepted.