'Party not favouring youngsters'; P C Vishnunadh MLA casts doubt on current congress leadership

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: P C Vishnunadh MLA minced no words as he tacitly blamed the current set of congress leaders for not providing a platform for youngsters to thrive. Vishnunadh also pointed out late congress veteran Oommen Chandy as a nonpareil congress leader who brought many youngsters to superior positions in the party. The MLA from Kundara was speaking in a debate on Oommen Chandy's autobiography 'Kalam Sakshi' at the Literary Festival organized by Mathrubhumi.

Vishnunadh expressed doubt about the current leadership's ability to assign youth to the top leadership in the party.

” Oommen Chandy found us youngsters from many places and brought us to the leadership. If not, people like me would have never been MLA. In 2011, he had 10 lakh followers on Facebook. Considering the time, it was a marvellous feat. He could communicate with anyone and age never stood a hindrance in front of him” said Vishnunadh.

Meanwhile, Sunnykutty Abraham, editor of Kalam Sakshi, responded how the older generation in Congress freely questioned the party leadership.

“As of today, congress embraces a system that gives respect only to people having clout in Delhi. It is a big fall from the ethos espoused by the party. With this sudden shift, the golden era of K Karunakaran, Antony, Oommen Chandy and others have reached a screeching end” said Sunnykutty Abraham.

"People like MA John were instrumental in nurturing this generation ideologically and idealistically. When student leaders were brutally tortured by police using a lathi, the then CM EMS justified it by saying the lathi was not a flute. The then student leader Oommen Chandy dared to take on EMS with a sly warning saying ‘not to sow the wind and reap a storm’.