Learn from mistakes: AK Antony

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader A. K. Antony urged the party workers to learn from the mistakes in Chengannur by-election to win the Lok Sabha elections seven months away. 

Inaugurating the function where Mullappally Ramachandran took over as the new KPCC president along with the three working presidents and K. Muraleedharan as the chairman of the election campaign committee, he said the first step to victory is unity and inner-party democracy.

He wanted them to target the "new generation" voters and train workers on the "election management" 3-4 days ahead. He urged them to probe why the "traditional" voters in Chengannur drifted away. "If earlier Congress had traditional voters, this time they shied away," the CWC member said.

Referring to party leaders and workers who thronged Indira Bhavan to cheer the new team, a happy Mr Antony said it's the first time he witnessed jubilation at such a level and such a large crowd at the party headquarters. 

But he warned over excitation will only bring danger to the party. “All the booth committees should be strengthened to enable the Congress party to overcome the strides made by the Marxist party and the RSS who puts up excellent work at the time of the polls on a war footing," he said. 

"If we can put up an excellent election management work 3-4 days before going to the polls, none can stop the Congress from its winning streak.”

CWC member and AICC general secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh Oommen Chandy exuded confidence in the new team led by Mr Ramachandran, his colleague from the student days, as evident from the support of workers and the general public. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala recalled the support he had extended as the KPCC vice-president under him.