The Congress party has a long list of senior leaders and an equally long history of internal conflicts, which become more visible whenever positions of power come into the picture. At such moments, the party’s internal discipline and the true colours of the Congress high command become more visible, often giving rise to yet another branch of Congress-style politics. Following the announcement of V.D. Satheeshan as the Chief Minister for Keralam, the discontent within the party has now tumbled out into the open.
Senior Congress leader and Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala fumed after the declaration of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP).
Reports suggest that he conveyed his displeasure to the Congress High Command. It is also reported that Ramesh would not join the cabinet. He is not even attending the CLP meeting scheduled for the evening of May 14. He left his house and departed for Harippad, his Assembly constituency.
He has reportedly complained to the party high command that his seniority was not taken into consideration at all. He feels he has been ignored despite always adhering to party discipline.
Reports suggest he left his Thiruvananthapuram residence through the back door while party workers and media persons were waiting in front of his house.
The senior Congress leader Ramesh reportedly reminded the leadership that he had served as a minister in the state 40 years ago and that becoming a minister under V.D. Satheeshan was beyond his imagination.
Reports further suggest that Mallikarjun Kharge called Ramesh again on the morning of May 14. Even after a call from de facto party chief Rahul Gandhi.
Meanwhile, Ramesh reportedly remained unchanged in his stand.
While in Delhi, K.C. Venugopal speaking to media, welcomed the Congress party’s High Command decision and said he has no complaints.
He said it was time to bury all past discussions. According to him, the leadership might have applied several parameters before zeroing in on V.D. Satheeshan.
K.C. Venugopal said that the party was most important to him. He promised full support to Satheeshan and the government he is set to head.
He reportedly told media persons that he was ready to give up the position of General Secretary (Organisation). Meanwhile, there are reports that he is meeting Rahul Gandhi again during the day.
There is also an important development in Congress central politics, with several groups reportedly joining hands with K.C. Venugopal.
Pazhakulam Madhu, one of his closest associates in Kerala, said there had been a hate campaign against Congress leader Venugopal and that it should be investigated.
G. Sukumaran Nair, General Secretary of NSS, the community organisation of Hindu Nairs, said that the Congress had surrendered before communal forces like the Indian Union Muslim League.
Speaking to media persons, Deepa Das Munshi said she was not aware of any discord among Congress leaders in Kerala. She alleged that all such reports were media creations and maintained that there were no issues in Kerala.
Observers are now waiting to see what step Ramesh Chennithala will take next.
