KOLLAM: The RSP is facing depletion in its ranks with several discontented leaders and workers quitting and joining either the CPM or the Congress. Rudolf Antony, who was expelled from the RSP, joined the Congress along with 50 other members last month putting the RSP on alert over the unethical tactics of the Congress.
The RSP district committee members, at a meeting, have raised concerns over the party's association with the Congress in the Assembly elections.
Mr Antony had won in the local body polls as a rebel against the UDF candidate, which forced the RSP to take disciplinary action against him.
The party had also faced reverses in its strongholds, including Kunnathoor, Sooranad, Chavara, Panmana, Neendakara, Nedumpana and Chathinamkulam.
Some prominent RSP members like B. Jayanti, daughter of RSP founder-member V. P. Ramakrishna Pillai, state committee member B. Raghoothaman Pillai, district committee member K. Thula seedharan Pillai and RYF state committee member L. Sugathan had joined the CPM alleging “deviation of the party to the right.”
The upcoming Assembly elections will be decisive for the RSP as the IUML has already staked claim for the Eravipuram seat which was with the RSP before its crossover to the UDF.
The RSP is also not confident of contesting the Kundara Assembly seat as several of its members have lost faith in the Congress. They claim the seat would be sabotaged by the Congress itself.
However, the RSP has decided to strengthen the organisational set-up of the party to prevent further flow of members to other political parties.
