THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state Congress leadership has issued a show-cause notice to Thiruvananthapuram DCC general secretary A Prajinbabu for publishing an advertorial in TNIE on Sunday, backing senior leader Ramesh Chennithala, in an apparent violation of the party’s directive against canvassing for the chief minister post. However, leaders supporting Chennithala have termed the action as a ‘selective action.’
The disciplinary action follows an intervention by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who asked the CM aspirants to desist from public campaigning amid an intensifying factional tussle.
The notice, served by general secretary Neyytinkara Sanal on the directions of the KPCC president Sunny Joseph, terms the “full page focus feature advertisement” given by Prajinbabu as a serious breach of organisational discipline.
“Both AICC and KPCC have instructed, following the assembly polls, that Congress leaders and workers should refrain from issuing statements through print, visual and social media platforms regarding the selection of chief minister as it could bring disrepute to the organisation publicly,” said the notice. It added that Prajinbabu had violated these directives. “If a satisfactory explanation is not submitted within three days...further disciplinary action will be initiated,” it said.
Prajinbabu told TNIE that he has not received any show-cause notice and denied any intent to defame the party. “That was not an advertisement. It was a feature published in my name. Some are now trying to portray it otherwise,” he said.
He also said that while all leaders in contention for the CM post are qualified, Chennithala stands a step ahead in terms of seniority and experience. “I don’t believe that the Congress high command will decide on the next chief minister based on my newspaper feature. Congress has its own established procedure for selecting its leader. How could I imagine influencing such a decision?” he asked. The DCC general secretary also said he was unaware of the KPCC president’s directive at that time.
The KPCC’s move has not gone down well with Chennithala’s supporters, who see it as selective action. “We see large hoardings favouring a particular leader and yet no action was taken,” said a leader in the Chennithala camp. “There is also cyber bullying against many senior leaders, who have opposed CM canvassing. Yet no action has been taken against them. If party discipline is the concern, it should be applied uniformly,” the leader added.