Congress divided over Athirappilly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leadership is divided over the  Athirappilly project which the LDF government wants to implement.  While Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala has opposed it, former chief minister Oommen Chandy says a consensus should be reached on it.   The onus is now on  KPCC president M. M. Hassan to take a united stand after holding talks in the party and  with the UDF leadership.   Mr  Hassan has said that the  Congress was  against the Athirapally project.

The differences in the Congress had cropped up after Electricity Minister M.M. Mani  announced that the government will go ahead with it  and that preliminary works had started. Mr Chennithala  said that  the UDF is opposed to the project and clarified that  he and Mr Chandy have the same opinion.

 “Oommen Chandy opined that  talks have to be held with people from all walks of life. The media is twisting his words,” said  Mr Chennithala.  He asked Mr V. S. Achuthanandan, chairman of Administrative Reforms Commission, to speak out openly if he is opposed to the   project. Mr  Chennithala had sent a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requesting him not to seek  environmental clearance for the scheme as it would damage  the  environment.