Tharoor to share dais with K Sudhakaran and V D Satheesan in Kochi; chief orator in professional congress conclave

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC chief K Sudhakaran and opposition leader V D Satheesan will share the dais with Shashi Tharoor MP in the new situation within the party. The three leaders will attend the state level conclave of professional congress in Kochi coming Sunday. Tharoor will be the main orator in the conclave with Dr S S Lal and Mathew Kuzhalnadan MLA as the main organizers. KPCC chief K Sudhakaran will inaugurate the conclave and opposition leader V D Satheesan will inaugurate the leaders’ forum. The programme is organized as various sessions to be held in a private hotel in Kochi from 9 am to 6 pm. All want to know whether the three leaders will come together. Tharoor loyalist Sabarinathan is also attending the conclave.

Tharoor's Malabar tour saw a huge turnout despite an undeclared ban by the party's official faction. Tharoor now has the clear support of the A faction of the party. After the Malabar tour, Tharoor had participated in the party's protest venue in his home town in Thiruvananthapuram the other day. Tharoor came to the venue in front of the corporation as a response to criticism that he was not paying attention to the main strike in Thiruvananthapuram. Tharoor's supporters are planning to organize programmes in other districts similar to the Malabar tour. Tharoor will attend various events in Kottayam on December 3 and in Pathanamthitta on December 4.

The official faction fear that Tharoor's move to focus on state politics is aimed at the chief minister's post. The official faction is trying to avoid this move using groupism and Pinarayi-Modi praises.

However, Tharoor said that he is not trying to form a new group in the party and is not afraid of anyone. He is also trying not to say anything against the present party leadership. Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Tariq Anwar, who is in charge of Kerala organization, said that he does not consider Tharoor's move to be against the party, and his opponents are shocked. The high command is also looking at the present situation in Kerala with caution.