Kerala: AICC may pick secular' leader

Thiruvananthapuram: While Congress leaders in the state are dejected over the inordinate delay in appointing a KPCC president, AICC sources told this newspaper that a Hindu secular leader is most likely to come at the helm of the party.

So far, former chief minister Oommen Chandy was being projected by his ‘A’ camp. But with Mr Chandy repeatedly saying that he is not interested in coming at the helm of the party, it has left the AICC leadership more confused.

It should be recalled that since ‘I’ group leader and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala belongs to Hindu Nair community, ‘A’ camp was demanding that the new PCC chief post should come from their group and also that it should be a Christian. Accordingly, Mr Chandy’s trusted lieutenants, K.C. Joseph MLA and Benny Behanan’s names were projected. This did not go down well with Chennithala camp and ‘A’ group was firm in their stand.

With Congress president and vice-president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi respectively in US, the appointment has been delayed. AICC sources said that they are seriously considering a secular leader as the new PCC chief.

“By appointing a Hindu secular leader, the growth of BJP can be arrested. Plus, by bringing in such a leader, it will also attract youngsters into the party”, the AICC source said.

Earlier in the day, Mr Chandy said that a temporary KPCC president is most likely to be appointed soon. He said he will be talking to AICC general secretary in charge of the state, Mukul Wasnik to expedite the appointment. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala also told reporters here that a new KPCC president will be appointed soon. However, he tried to spoil the chances of Chandy coming at the helm by citing that he (Chandy) had been repeatedly claiming that he is not interested.

“The ball is in the court of the AICC leadership to zero in on the party chief,” Mr Chennithala said.

Chandy maintained that the appointment will happen soon. He said there is no relation between organisational elections and the new PCC chief’s appointment.

Now those leaders who are in the race include K.C. Venugopal MP, K.V. Thomas MP, P.T. Thomas MLA and V.D. Satheesan MLA. But leaders feel that with solar commission judicial report expected to come within a couple of months, a prominent MP’s name is not likely be considered for the PCC chief post.