KOZHIKODE: Congress leadership in the state was busy engaged in firefighting on Tuesday after being put in a spot following AICC president Rahul Gandhi’s statement that he has differences with his party on the Sabarimala women entry issue.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala chose to downplay the lack of sync with the party chief on the Sabarimala issue.
“Even though Rahulji has a different opinion on the issue, he has given the party state unit the mandate to take an appropriate decision based on the sentiments of the people of the state. This shows his greatness and belief in democratic values,” said Chennithala.
Inaugurating a meeting organised here to explain the UDF’s stand in the Sabarimala issue, Chennithala said Rahul has himself stressed that his opinion on women entry was a personal one. He has chosen not to impose his opinion on the party’s state unit and has given it the right to disagree.
Chennithala added that the BJP or Congress workers would not dare voice a different opinion before Narendra Modi or Pinararyi Vijayan.
KPCC president Mullapally Ramachandran said the Congress chief has clarified that since the state unit represents the sentiments of the people of Kerala, he submits to the state unit’s views.
“There will be individual opinions within a party. But what finally prevails is a collective opinion which will be the party’s official stand,” he said.