Party losing mass base: AK Antony
Party leaders and workers should be aware of both the dangers and take steps to counter them.
Kochi: Senior Congress leader A.K. Antony said the party is losing its mass base in the state due to infighting and the refusal by leaders to learn any lessons from previous setbacks.
In a hard hitting speech at Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Sangamam organised by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee here on Saturday, Mr. Antony called for a generational change in the leadership.
Warning about the BJP encroaching on the support base of the Congress, Mr Antony said that by standing together for a photo shoot or a sitting together at KPCC office will not help to bring the unity in the party.
“People should be convinced of the unity,” he said. Pleading for bringing back those who are staying away from the party, Mr Antony said efforts should also be made for preventing others from leaving.
“We should give them hope” he said. The Congress leader pointed out that the BJP is trying all out effort to make a Congress-free India while the CPM is striving for the disintegration of the UDF in the state.
Party leaders and workers should be aware of both the dangers and take steps to counter them. The former Defence Minister lamented that the leaders in Kerala are not learning any lessons even after the defeats in the panchyat and Assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters later, Mr. Antony clarified that by “generational change” he was not advocating for a total revamp of the existing leadership. The issue was giving more representation to youth and women, he added.