AICC firefights Kerala factional feud amid Rahul Gandhi’s Wayanad trip

AICC is attempting to kind out the feud in Kerala after senior leaders Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala formally opposed the checklist of district Congress president probables PCC president Ok Sudhakaran submitted to it with the backing of legislative occasion chief VD Satheesan. AICC normal secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal is named the mentor of the newly-anointed Sudhakaran-Satheesan staff and the DCC chiefs’ checklist is believed to have his endorsement.

In separate e-mail to interim occasion president Sonia Gandhi, coinciding with Rahul Gandhi’s 3-day go to to his Wayanad constituency, Chandy and Chennithala opposed the checklist alleging ‘unilateralism’ in choice and mentioned it was submitted with out broad consultations with senior leaders, together with them.

Of their first act of formal resistance since Gandhi’s ‘generational shift’ mission, the 2 additionally alleged that social and gender illustration within the checklist was insufficient and a few probables lacked acceptance amongst occasion employees. The letter struggle got here after the silent tussle within the PCC, which delayed the structure of Sudhakaran’s promise of main a ‘groupless and compact’ organisation.

The argument gained broader acceptability as ex-PCC chiefs, VM Sudheeran — a Rahul Gandhi appointee given the cost to free the state unit of factionalism earlier — and Mullappally Ramachandran mentioned they weren’t consulted earlier than the DCC checklist was ready. The 2 will not be affiliated to both the Chandy or Ramesh-led teams.

The Sudhakar-Satheesan camp maintains there have been sufficient discussions with senior leaders and occasion legislators earlier than the checklist was despatched. Their supporters alleged the Chandy-Chennithala resistance was an indication of their belligerence at being sidelined. However many insiders mentioned the letters could also be a sign of their temper to broaden their struggle, which coincides with raging feud in lots of Congress state models.

Whereas it is necessary for the brand new staff to have the checklist endorsed to determine and have a brand new lineup of DCC management, the AICC is eager on averting a much bigger struggle and has reached out to Chandy, Chennithala and others to hearken to their grievances and

‘inputs’ for DCCs’ submit.

“No closing choice has been taken on appointing the 14 new DCC presidents. I’m holding talks with varied senior leaders, together with Chandy and Chennitaha and likewise occasion MPs and MLAs, listening to their views and taking their inputs on the DCC president’s selection. The ultimate choice will probably be taken conserving in thoughts all recommendations,” AICC normal secretary incharge Tariq Anwar instructed ET.