Sudhakaran-Satheesan fight intensifying; setback for efforts to consolidate unity in Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala state Congress leaders are at loggerheads amid the high command's efforts to consolidate unity in the party in view of the local elections. The tussle between KPCC president K Sudhakaran and leader of opposition VD Satheesan has started affecting party events and unity efforts. The fight escalated after some leaders' ill response to the post of Chief Minister became controversial.

The KPCC Political Affairs Committee meeting that was supposed to be held yesterday was postponed at the last minute. The meeting was called to discuss local elections and organizational issues. AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunshi and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal who came to the capital on Saturday afternoon to participate in this, returned to Delhi in great anger.

VD Satheesan, despite being in the capital, did not attend the state-level inauguration of the 'Jai Bapu Jai Bhim Jai Samvidhan' campaign announced by the AICC and the centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi's Congress presidency, at the KPCC headquarters on Friday morning. VD Satheesan did not attend the meeting of KPCC office bearers and DCC presidents in the afternoon and returned because he had to attend some other events. K Sudhakaran expressed displeasure over this.

Sudhakaran had stayed away from the online meeting of UDF constituent leaders on Saturday due to some inconvenience. Later, Satheesan also informed that he had to attend some events in Malappuram and would not be able to reach the political affairs committee. The AICC leadership is monitoring the infighting of the leaders very seriously.

Controversial debate on the post of Chief Minister

• The high-profile discussions surrounding Ramesh Chennithala's chief ministership also led to controversy. This is following Chennithala's participation in the programs of SNDP Yogam and NSS.
• K Muraleedharan had responded that a person cannot become Chief Minister if he praises any community organization. MM Hasan had also said that it is not the community organizations that decide the Chief Minister candidate of the Congress.
• AK Antony's response that we need to prepare for local elections, not have unnecessary discussions, was a warning for this discussion.