THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior leader Mullappally Ramachandran has come up with sharp criticism against the Congress national leadership. He made it clear that the Congress cannot go ahead with flatterers and individual worship has never won. He said the Congress now needed leaders with ideals and clarity and the defeat in five states has disappointed party workers and their morale is going down. Mullappally further added that they should be given an opportunity to speak fearlessly in the party forums.

Earlier, senior leader Oommen Chandy had come out in response to the criticism leveled against Congress general secretary KC Venugopal. "Attacks on individuals are not right. That is not the way of Congress", he said. Oommen Chandy said that the change of leadership should be discussed in the meeting.

Following the election result, flex boards were set up in Kozhikode against Venugopal. Boards were set up to expel Venugopal and save the Congress. The boards were set up by a group called the Congress Fellowship.

CM Ibrahim also came to the fore against KC Venugopal today. Ibrahim alleged that KC Venugopal is destroying the Congress and that certain agents are ruling the Congress. "High Command is interested in corrupt leaders. Rahul Gandhi is a complete failure. Rahul does not know how to lead. The Congress distanced itself from the people. This was the reason for the setback", Ibrahim said.