Sonia Gandhi to mollify Kerala CM over KPCC chief

All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi may have to spend time to mollify Chief Minister Oommen Chandy over the ‘unilateral’ appointment of senior leader V M Sudheeran as Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president when she arrives at Cochin on Saturday to kick off the party’s Lok Sabha poll campaign.

Chandy, who expressed his displeasure over the elevation of Sudheeran by skipping his installation ceremony and subsequent reception hosted for him by the Trivandrum District Congress Committee (DCC), could not be pacified by the AICC secretary in-charge of Kerala Dipak Babria deputed by the high command.

The chief minister and former KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala had pressed the name of Speaker G Karthikeyan during the consultation the high command had with them. However, the high command picked up Sudheeran as he was not aligned to any faction in the state and enjoyed a clean image.

Chandy was upset as the high command had nominated Sudheeran without taking him and his predecessor into confidence. He reportedly expressed his annoyance over the matter during the talks Babria had with him here on Thursday. The chief minister said that he was not against the appointment of Sudheeran but the manner in which it was done.

Chandy said he came to know about the appointment from the media and felt that the high command could have at least informed him before making the announcement.

However, he denied any rift between him and the new party chief and added that he will be able to work with him.

Babria, who was rushed to the state after Chandy conveyed his displeasure to Defence Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member A K Antony, indicated that he was not successful in his mission. He said Sonia Gandhi may talk to him and explain any lapse on the part of the high command in communicating the decision to him.

The high command had picked up Sudheeran to boost the party’s poll prospects. The Congress wants to win maximum seats from the state as it is facing a stiff competition from the Bharatiya Janata Party in the northern belt.

The Congress and its allies in the United Democratic Front had won 17 of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in the 2009 election. The party high command hopes Sudheeran’s leadership may help the party to improve the tally.

Gandhi, who comes to the state to inaugurate a special convention of the party at Cochin and address the national meet of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) at Quilon, also needs to find time to settle the claims of some of the UDF constituents for more seats.

The state-level leaders, who could not resolve the demand of the Kerala Congress (M) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) for one more seat and Socialist Janata Party for one seat, have left the matter to the party high command. Gandhi is expected to hold talks with the leaders of the parties after the convention. The Congress will be able to go ahead with the selection of candidates only after completing the seat sharing among the allies.

The convention to be attended by office bearers from the booth level is expected to draw up the party’s strategy and themes for the campaign. The state leadership is looking towards the party chief to energise the party functionaries and the rank and file.

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