THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The newly constituted 16-member core committee to oversee the election process in the state Congress has redrawn the power equation in the party.
After the emergence of a new group that has declared its allegiance to AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, the infighting for the next CM post if the UDF comes to power has intensified. “This has prompted the high command to come up with a new system. For us, returning to power in Kerala after a gap of a decade is crucial,” said a veteran leader.
The bringing in of veteran leader and close confidant of the Gandhi family, AK Antony is termed as a calculated move of high command. Though the state leaders are trying to downplay the importance of including Antony as a working committee member, his presence itself is seen as an imposing posture of the Gandhi family. “His role will be to help the leadership to come to consensus on disputes and on crucial issues,” a political affairs committee (PAC) member said.
The inclusion of former KPCC presidents Mullapally Ramachandran and VM Sudheeran in the 16 -member core committee which has now become the apex body to take final decisions on any issues has also changed the course of group politics. Mullpally has been abstaining from the PAC meeting for a long time due to his difference of opinion on the style of functioning. Sudheeran, though he has been attending the PAC meetings, is also reportedly not happy with the way things are happening.
“I will fully cooperate with the new system,” said Mullappally Ramachendran. “I will participate in the meeting or will inform them of my opinion on issues,” he said.
The outcome of the new reshuffle at the highest level will result in some leaders who had an upper hand in the organisation and decision-making had lost it. The major players like VD Satheesan who was in the forefront for contesting for the CM post against Ramesh Chennithala is the worst affected. Even though, after his fallout with the Shafi Parambil- Rahul Mamkootathil section, Satheesan had lost the edge, he was in the race. However, the entry of KC Venugopal in the state Congress has changed the course of the race.
“Though Venugopal’s associates can argue that there is no need to include him in the core committee as he is AICC general secretary (organisation), however, his absence and the presence of Antony, Mullapally and Sudheeran is a game-changing plan. The power centre has been changed altogether,” said a leader.
In the discussion held with Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, some leaders proposed that KPCC president or KC Venugopal must be the chairman of the committee. However, the two leaders rejected the idea by saying that putting any leader from state as the chairman of the core committee would give a wrong message and they appoint Deepa Dasmunsi as the convenor.
“In the meeting, Rahul made it clear that the CM will be chosen by the Congress president. However, Kharge intervened and said that the high command will decide,” a leader present at the meeting said.
According to senior leaders, at the election time the convenor would have to meet community leaders and other political leaders. “Deepa Das is not familiar with these community leaders. This is a new terrain for her and might affect the prospects of the party.
Some leaders also asked the high command to appoint a Campaign and Strategic Committee like in 2021. There was also a demand to limit the number of members to 10. “There is no need to include the three working presidents in the committee,” a leader said.