THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The appointment of Mullappally Ramachandran as KPCC president is a blow to group managers. Even though he had the blessings of ‘A’ group, the rival ‘I’ group is not happy. The lawmaker from Vadakara has been in New Delhi for the better part of his political career spanning more than five decades.
The 73-year-old had always kept a distance from group politics much to the displeasure of the rival camps, and he remained a “persona non grata” for both.
Luck came in his favour for his role as the chairman of central election authority holding organisational elections across the country culminating in the elevation of Rahul Gandhi as AICC president. “Mr Ramachandran is not going to be a rubber stamp. He has a stand on every issue,” said a senior leader. Mr Gandhi has called a meeting with the new functionaries in New Delhi on Saturday.
He and his colleagues, working presidents M. I. Shanavas, K. Sudhakaran and Kodikunnil Suresh and K. Muraleedharan, the chairman of the election campaign committee will assume office only after this meeting.
Mr Gandhi will ask them to ensure maximum seats from Kerala in the next Lok Sabha, Mr Ramachandran will have to take into confidence the rank and file, including Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala, ahead of the elections seven months away.
While Mr Chandy said his appointment was acceptable to all, Mr Chennithala opined the new leadership would strengthen the party. “He's a senior politician who started working alo-ng with Indira Gandhi,” said a former KPCC president. “He's not going to toe Mr Chennithala’s line easily.”
