Leaders attack, embrace Shashi Tharoor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While Shashi Tharoor's tour programmes continue to evoke mixed reactions among party leaders, some leaders have come up criticising and taking digs at each other. At the same time, there is also a call for unity. KPCC president K Sudhakaran, former presidents Ramesh Chennithala and K Muraleedharan, AICC general secretary Tariq Anwar and MK Raghavan MP opened their minds with different opinions when they came together at the foundation stone laying venue of the Kozhikode DCC office.

K Muraleedharan said that although he desires to work as an MLA, he is thinking of contesting the Lok Sabha elections considering the new situation. Taking a dig at some leaders, Muraleedharan said that if everyone gears up to contest for the Legislative Assembly, there will be an impression that the Congress will not come to power at the Centre this time too. Extending his support to Tharoor, Muraleedharan said that Tharoor did not commit any breach of discipline. He said that Tharoor is not outside but inside the party. Muraleedharan's statement can be interpreted as that Tharoor may not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election and that he is aiming for Thiruvanthapuram in the Assembly elections.

Without naming Tharoor, Ramesh Chennithala said that no one is prohibited from participating in public programs in Kerala. He, however, added that those who come to participate in the programs should inform the respective DCCs or mandalam committees. In his speech, MK Raghavan MP stated that there is a need for a definition of the discipline in the Congress. Raghavan said that he is ready to accept whatever action the KPCC president decides.Tariq Anwar said that at a time when Congress is facing challenges, there will be a comeback only if everyone works together.

K Sudhakaran openly said that the reason for the downfall of the Congress was its distancing from the common people. "Nowadays no one is accepting politics by studying ideology. Every worker should realize that his politics is about solving people's problems," Sudhakaran said. He was not ready to accept or reject the criticism made in the Tharoor issue.