Clashes and mass resignations in Congress: Disciplinary actions to be taken only after elections

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leadership is maintaining restraint even as clashes and mass resignations continue over candidate selection for the local body elections. The leadership has decided that there is no need for strict action against leaders who resign from core committees formed for the elections. KPCC President Sunny Joseph stated that no one’s voice has been silenced, and disciplinary action will be taken only if necessary after a detailed examination.

A physical altercation took place on Thursday at the Kasaragod DCC office. The district Congress leadership is embarrassed as videos of the fight between DCC vice president James and DKDF district president Vasudevan were made public. In most districts, workers have raised complaints against the DCCs. The main allegation is that active workers are being sidelined and seats are being given to favourites.

In the capital district, KPCC general secretary Ramani P. Nair resigned from her post as mandalam core committee chairman, and DCC general secretary M.J. Anand resigned from his party positions. Their resignations came in protest against the selection of candidates without consulting the core committee. League state president Sadiqali Shihab Thangal had expressed concern that the Muslim League did not receive the seats it deserved in southern districts.

In Idukki, even marathon discussions failed to resolve disputes over district panchayat divisions, leading the DCC to hand over candidate selection to the KPCC. In Thrissur, a group of workers resigned together. Around fifty people, including block secretaries and Youth Congress leaders, resigned in support of Congress Ollur block secretary Shomy Francis, who is contesting as a rebel candidate in the Kuriachira division.