Congress tries generational change in Kerala with Satheesan’s appointment as opposition chief

The Congress’s humiliating defeat within the Kerala Assembly polls in 1967 and its cut up on the nationwide stage two years later in 1969 led to the emergence of a crop of younger get together leaders within the state — amongst them had been A Ok Antony, Vayalar Ravi, Oommen Chandy, P C Chacko, Kadannappalli Ramachandran and V M Sudheeran. And barring Kadannappalli, who’s now a part of the LDF, the others maintain sway within the get together even to today, contemplating that the Congress in Kerala has seen new generations of leaders emerge within the final 5 a long time however barely any of them occupy high posts.
Considering this, the appointment of V D Satheesan (56) as Leader of the Opposition is a generational change – not by way of age as he’s solely eight years youthful to his predecessor Ramesh Chennithala – however by way of breaking the shackles of a longtime management. With this, the Congress excessive command has additionally proven willingness to transcend the established “group” equations within the state.
The rival teams led by former CM Chandy and Chennithala had joined arms to nix Satheesan’s appointment. They wished Chennithala to proceed as LoP and appoint Chandy — or an individual of his selection — because the president of the state unit. It would have ensured that energy remained within the arms of the 2 leaders and their respective factions.
Those near Rahul Gandhi instantly claimed it was he who insisted on a generational change in Kerala. The appointment comes weeks after a drubbing within the recently-held Kerala Assembly polls.
“After the 1967 defeat and the 1969 split…a weakened Congress found its feet when a new generation of leaders came into prominence…they worked as corrective forces within the party…had a huge say in the line that the party took on important issues…and the party was re-energised,” one senior chief stated.
A brand new era of leaders turned office-bearers within the PCC and entered the Assembly and Parliament. “That is how the party got re-energised…as the youth got attracted,” one other chief stated.

A younger MP stated the “demand was not just for a generational change but for change in positions that the party took”. “(Chennithala) was certainly not of the Antony-Chandy vintage…but he was always a part of the system…the group system.”
So what are the correctives that they anticipate? “The Congress is a secular party. The Congress need not bow before community or religious leaders…Congress has to take a stand on issues not thinking about electoral gain or loss…But when it came to issues related to castes, religion, environment…the Congress tried to dilute its position…and it drove the young generation away…look at Pinarayi Vijayan…he took a stern stand against central agencies…he engaged with all religious and caste leaders but never bowed before them,” the MP stated.
Asked to touch upon the event, Thrissur MP T N Prathapan, who was referred to as one of many inexperienced MLAs, together with Satheesan and V T Balram, for his or her stand on environmental points when the Congress was in energy throughout 2011-2016, informed The Sunday Express that “the party organisation should also go for a drastic change”, “without any partnership business”.

V T Balram agreed. “Similar change should take place in the KPCC and DCC levels too.”
But a veteran chief stated the excessive command had tried to interrupt group equations with the appointment of Sudheeran because the PCC chief in 2014. “He was non-factional…but he could not end groupism…let’s see how it (Satheesan’s appointment) plays out.”