Congress 'I' group meets, moots elections for KPCC revamp

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala found time to hold ‘group talks’ even while engaging in hectic parleys with both UDF and Congress leaders on K. M. Mani’s exit at his official residence Cantonment House on Monday. For the last few weeks, he was trying to hold group talks, but mainstream leaders kept away fearing AICC wrath.

The meeting decided to insist organisational elections instead of nominations after Mr Chennithala told them that if the party went for nominations, it would enable V. M. Sudheeran to continue as KPCC president. A prominent 'I' group leader told DC that AICC leadership was trying to defend Mr Sudheeran through appointments, which will also weaken factional politics.

Congress sources said K. Sudhakaran, former health minister V. S. Sivakumar, party general secretary N. Subramanian, former MLA Joseph Vazhakkan, KPCC secretaries Pazhakulam Madhu, Jyothikumar Chamakkala, R. Valsalan, Neyyattinkara Sanal and M. M. Nazeer had attended the meeting. Mr Chennithala had held talks with Mr Sudhakaran in Kochi on Sunday citing the same issue that under no circumstances should leaders cede to Congress high command’s decision that nominations are the best option for revamping the party.