Thiruvananthapuram Congress idles, fresh bout after Onam

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress camp has been idle as the majority of leaders are busy with Onam. But turbulence could return after Onam as the first high power Political Affairs Committee meeting is scheduled for September 24.
Congress leaders feel that except former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his 'A' group, no leader belonging to the 'I' camp will back tainted leader K. Babu, the former excise minister.

KPCC has not witnessed a major meeting taking place after the PAC committee formed on Aug 31 by the AICC leadership. Even at the UDF meeting, KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran reserved his comments on Mr Babu facing vigilance raid. He had made it already clear that he would react after the PAC meet which would decide the party’s stand.

So far besides Mr Chandy, KPCC vice-president M. M. Hassan and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala had rallied behind Mr Babu. Usually, Sudheeran takes an Onam break along with his wife Latha to some tourist destination within the country.

This time, they are heading to Agati in Lakshadweep on Sep 18 and will return on Sep 24. “Once the PCC chief is back in the state capital, the calmness will fade away as it would soon witness the PAC’s first sitting.

Though Chennithala had rallied behind Mr Babu on the vigilance raid, he along with his ‘I’ group, had expressed unhappiness among the party circles over the way Mr Babu had played spoilsport in the bar scam,” said a prominent Congress leader.

 Mr Chandy is expected to distribute Onakkodi to cancer patients at his home at Poojappura. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala is celebrating his Onam in Malaysia along with his family where he is attending Malayali Association's Onam celebrations.

Another prominent KPCC general secretary told DC that when RSP leader N.K. Premachandran was keen to ensure that close to three lakh cashew workers get the Onam bonus in Kollam district, not a single Congress leader or trade union representatives was bothered to move their little finger.

“It is unfortunate that Congress leadership is least bothered to ensure their wellbeing.

“The Congress should have encashed the situation as the party was unable to win a single seat there,” said a KPCC general secretary.