Adoor Prakash's bombshell puts Congress in two camps

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress in Kerala appears divided into two camps following the remarks made by UDF convener Adoor Prakash, at a time when the four-month-old UDF government is trying to overcome a series of challenges, including political pressure from the CPM and the BJP and setbacks in the local body by-elections. Prakash's remarks have brought the differences within the Congress to the fore, with one section seen as supporting Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and another taking a different position.

Those supporting the Chief Minister believe that Prakash's target was Satheesan and that his remarks were linked to differences that emerged during the elections. However, the issue became more complicated after Prakash reiterated yesterday that he stood by what he had said. Several ministers who responded to the controversy did not agree with Prakash's public remarks, but they also stopped short of openly rejecting him. The Indian Union Muslim League, which had been unhappy over the delay in the division of boards and corporations, also disagreed with Prakash's criticism yesterday. However, Kerala Congress leader and minister Mons Joseph openly supported Prakash's position. Other allies have so far remained guarded in their responses.

Minister K. Muraleedharan and MP Rajmohan Unnithan rejected Prakash's remarks. Ministers Sunny Joseph and A.P. Anilkumar, however, took positions that appeared to support Prakash, while Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan also indicated support for the concerns he had raised. The Chief Minister has not commented on the issue so far.

K. Muraleedharan said he had no complaint about a lack of consultations and that the Chief Minister regularly communicated important matters to him. Rajmohan Unnithan said issues should be raised on party platforms rather than before the media. His remarks also reflected his dissatisfaction over the delay in the reorganisation of the KPCC.

Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said decisions should be taken through consultations and presented as a united stand. Meanwhile, AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal reacted sharply to attempts to link him to the remarks made by the UDF convener, saying that the statements made by Adoor Prakash should not be attributed to him.

A.K. Antony chooses not to respond

Senior Congress Working Committee member A.K. Antony declined to comment on Adoor Prakash's statement that several government decisions were not being discussed in the UDF. Antony was at the KPCC headquarters to attend a Gandhi Jayanti programme. Even after the media repeatedly asked him about the controversy, he responded only by wishing everyone on Gandhi Jayanti three times before getting into his car and leaving.