Clamour for overhaul rings loud in Congress; Chennithala possible fall man

Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  A day after the ballot debacle, the floodgates of criticism have been unleashed throughout the Congress celebration. Amid the clamouring to overtake the celebration proper from the highest, Ramesh Chennithala’s workplace has modified his media WhatsApp group from that of the Opposition Leader to his personal identify, hinting that he’s prone to cross the baton to second rung leaders. Not all is properly throughout the UDF allies both. 

Taking a cue from Okay Babu, who has been elected from Tripunithura, different distinguished leaders guilty the Congress management contains Shanimol Osman, who was defeated in Aroor, Idukki district president Ibrahimkutty Kallar, Dharmadom Congress candidate C Raghunath and Alappuzha district president M Liju, who has stepped down after his defeat in Ambalappuzha. 

Numerous celebration leaders have already approached the Congress excessive command looking for a change of guard. While the central management continues their grim silence, solely A Okay Antony has brazenly reacted, terming the drubbing “unexpected”. But the ball stays within the court docket of the central management on whether or not there might be an overhaul on the celebration and parliamentary celebration ranges. 

“Chennithala will step down from the Opposition Leader’s role,” senior Congress chief informed TNIE.“Once the parliamentary party meeting is convened, the new Opposition Leader will be chosen. The names mooted in party circles include Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, P T Thomas and V D Satheesan. It won’t be surprising if Chennithala is brought back as the Opposition Leader as he alone cannot be blamed for the defeat, particularly as he has an impeccable track record as the best Opposition Leader.” 

Satheesan, who’s recuperating after a bout of pneumonia, has enormous acceptance among the many rank and file of the celebration due to his experience in dealing with advanced points with élan. Thiruvanchoor is probably the most senior chief after Oommen Chandy and Chennithala. Leaders like Raghunath have been clamouring for Kannur MP, Okay Sudhakaran, because the successor to Mullappally Ramachandran. 

But it’s uncertain whether or not the central Congress management will fall for that as a majority throughout the celebration doesn’t conform to Sudhakaran’s “style of functioning”. On Monday, the three central Congress secretaries entrusted with overseeing the electioneering within the state returned to their states after being closeted with their common secretary (group) Okay C Venugopal. The management has additionally not determined when to carry the high-powered Political Affairs Committee assembly and in addition the UDF assembly to take inventory of the defeat.

Meanwhile, the RSP camp can be in turmoil as that is the second time in a row that they’ve been routed within the polls. While a piece throughout the RSP desires the celebration to return to the Left fold, they allege N Okay Premachandran, MP, is in opposition to the transfer. He has his causes to remain put, significantly as Chief Minister-designate Pinarayi Vijayan had come out with the “scoundrel” (paranaari) comment in opposition to him in the course of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The RSP had crossed over to the UDF fold after being denied a ticket.

ALAPPUZHA DCC PRESIDENT RESIGNSAlappuzha: DCC president M Liju has resigned from the put up within the wake of the defeat of the UDF within the district within the meeting elections. Liju submitted his resignation letter to KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran on Monday. “I have resigned taking the responsibility for the party’s debacle in the election,” the letter mentioned. The Congress, which had contested in eight seats in Alappuzha misplaced seven. Only the Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala received within the district.