Congress GenNext jogs patriarchs' memory

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: GenNext in the state Congress is turning its ire on the ageing leadership that clings on to positions of power despite being beneficiaries of the magnanimity their leaders had shown them decades back. The leaders are peeved that the old-timers even stonewall their attempts to meet the party’s central leadership and apprise it of the affairs. “Young leaders like A.K. Antony and Vayalar Ravi were able to challenge leaders such as K. Karunakaran and even Indira Gandhi on party fora and still make their political career,” a young Congress MLA told DC.

“When Mr Ravi wanted to contest from the then Chirayinkil Lok Sabha constituency during 1971, a young V. M. Sudheeran challenged R. Sankar by addressing him “Mr. Sankar” in a party meeting, demanding a generation shift. Sankar who was in his early 60s flashed a smile and conceded the demand.” This is unimaginable now, the MLA said. “If one of us addresses a senior leader as ‘mister’ now, then that would be the end of his or her political career.” Late G. Karthikeyan was part of the reformist group but Karunakaran, then parliamentary party leader, made him his deputy, he recalled.

“The scene no more the same now,” said another young leader. “Former Youth Congress state president K. P. Anil Kumar who challenged the KPCC leadership in 2006 had to wait for six years to get a proper placement in the party. The Youth Congress leaders behind the ‘Revive Congress’ team which surfaced during the 2016 Assembly elections also met with the same fate.” The young leaders hope Mr Antony, who has been holding parleys in the capital since Friday, will do his bit in ensuring that the youth brigade gets its due. “Mr Antony is genuinely concerned about us,” said a young leader. “But when it comes to crucial situations, groups led by Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala prevail on Antony, forcing us to take a back foot.”