THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Congress high command expressing strong displeasure over the interests of various faction leaders playing spoilsport in the party state unit, even after the suggested names in the list of KPCC executive members was revised thrice on strict directives, anxiety and uncertainty have gripped party circles on the likely net outcome after a prolonged exercise.
Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi has reportedly come down heavily on the stranglehold of group chieftains in the affairs of the state unit and thus making the listing of KPCC executive committee members too much complex and no end in sight to complaints for the very same reason.
Rahul has also made it clear there is no question of accepting the hegemony of group warlords anymore. Kerala remains the only state where the exercise to finalise PCC and AICC members is incomplete, even as the plan to anoint Rahul as party’s national president through elections is in its final stages.
The KPCC was hoping against hope that by effecting changes in the first list, going by the insistence of the high command for the inclusion of more women and youth, would resolve the issue. A large number of below 45-aged members were included and the total strength of women went up to 28 in the 282-member list, also with more representation for Dalits and STs. Over half of the committee members were new faces in the revised list.
However, the high command has found fault with the practice in the state unit wherein the prominent ‘A’ and ‘I’ groups would reach an understanding to protect their respective interests after decimating others who were either detached from the group games or not assertive. The revised lists submitted by KPCC was also no exception, as there was an apparent overdose of group interests.
Shashi Tharoor MP has raised strong reservations on rejecting a few names suggested by him and even expressed willingness to keep himself away from the KPCC executive.
Rahul’s move
Rahul had put the ball in the court of senior leader A K Antony, AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik and others to take a final call, strictly based on the guidelines issued to the KPCC to come up with a list on the basis of a genuine ‘consensus’.