AICC to curb factional war

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With civic elections due in November, the high command may step in to curb factionalism in the state Congress. The rift between Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala  continues even as both factions have similar grievances against PCC president V.M. Sudheeran.

Mr Chennithala and Co-operation Minister C. N. Balakrishnan had apprised Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the latest political developments in the party on Monday. AICC general secretary in charge of the state, Mukul Wasnik, is unlikely to visit the state now as his father has died.  But his deputy and AICC secretary in charge of the state, Dipak Babaria, may come to Thiruvananthapuram to take stock of the situation. Currently, he  is in his home town in Gujarat and would return to Delhi on Wednesday, said an AICC leader.

Mr Sudheeran told DC that he had  not been informed  of any AICC leaders coming here.

“I would go ahead with the job entrusted to  me,” he said.

It is felt that Mr  Chennithala’s visit to Delhi has sent  wrong signals to the people. “By going to Delhi, Chennithala has made it clear that he is supporting a tainted leader like Consumerfed president Joy Thomas. Chennithala and Chandy are brushing the Consumerfed controversy under the carpet and the group fight is being highlighted,” said a  KPCC general secretary.