Problems within Congress will affect UDF as well; warns KPCC chief

THIRUVAANTHAPURAM: With the release of the list of DCC office bearers yesterday, group disputes in the Congress and infighting between the leaders had gone haywire. The incidents had reached the point where Congress leader A V Gopinath from Palakkad resigned from the primary membership of the party. However, KPCC president K Sudhakaran has warned that these issues will not only affect the Congress but also the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

Sudhakaran was responding to the criticisms levelled by RSP leader Shibu Baby John. He had publicly criticized saying the Congress is not drowning but the leaders are drowning the party. Shibu Baby John had alleged that they understood the need of the Congress in the country and stood by them but the Congress leaders did not understand this.

Apart from this, the party leaders had also complained to the state committee that the RSP was not being given due consideration in the UDF. Leaders strongly protested saying the letter given months ago asking to discuss the difficulties faced in the UDF had not yet been considered. The date was decided several times to discuss the letter but due to the problems within the Congress, it did not happen. The RSP has strong disapproval on it.

Sudhakaran said it is natural for constituents to be concerned about the crisis within the Congress and that he considered Shibu Baby John's criticism to be well-intentioned. Sudhakaran said he would hold discussions with the allied parties as early as possible and take steps to allay their concerns.

Sudhakaran added that he is ready for talks with Gopinath, who resigned from the party, but did not intend to travel to Palakkad for this. He said it is a delusion that people from Congress would join the BJP.