Congress manifesto to be ‘interactive’

Thiruvananthapuram: The three-member KPCC committee comprising general secretaries Dr Sooranad Rajasekharan, Satheeshan Pacheni and Sajeev Joseph has been holding talks with politicians, social activists and decision makers from various strata of society for including their views in the AICC election manifesto.

The meetings which have been taking across the state at the block and district levels will conclude on Wednesday. The committee will be submitting its report to the KPCC leadership on Thursday.

This is the first time the KPCC has been interacting with the public while preparing its manifesto. The members held public meetings where a set of questions were given to the public for their suggestions and views.

“Two of the main recommendations from the public are for the ‘Right to health’ and ‘Right to housing’ on the lines of the Food Security Act. We will be summarizing the recommendations and then holding final discussions with MLAs, MPs and ministers on Wednesday at the KPCC”, said Rajasekharan.

Another recommendation from the northern region of the State was to write off  agricultural loans completely as some of the farmers were in dire straits.

“Fourteen DCC presidents will be sharing their views on Wednesday at the meeting which will be chaired by PCC chief, Ramesh Chennithala”, said Joseph.

According to Pacheni, the block level leaders have been raising issues from across the State though the interactive meeting will be taking place only in Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur and Kasargode districts.

“The people in Wyanad have demanded a tribal university and another request has been to include the ‘Paniya’ community in the reservation category”, said  Pacheni.

Chennithala and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy are expected to leave for New Delhi on December 12 where they will submit a comprehensive draft before the AICC manifesto committee chairman and Union Defence Minister A. K. Antony.