THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as murmurs against the diktat issued by KPCC president V M Sudheeran that stern action will be initiated against those found indulging in factional politicking in the run up to the grassroots-level revamp in the party, Sudheeran stood ground on Wednesday and underscored that Congress workers in the lower rung are against groupism and the party is bound to address it.
Replying to posers of mediapersons based on the criticism raised by senior Congress leader and former Union Minister-Governor M M Jacob, who had demanded the other day that Sudheeran should change his style of functioning and there is nothing wrong in holding group meetings, the latter said that the good intention behind the KPCC directive should be understood by all concerned.
“All should extend full co-operation to it,” Sudheeran urged. M M Jacob was highly critical of Sudheeran in an interview, lashing out at the latter’s directives to DCC presidents to report and initiate action against those leading group based campaigning to capture booth-mandalam-block-district wings of the party.
After issuing an initial warning which didn’t lessen the factional drive, Sudheeran tightened it with an assertion that those who are not able to think above group politics will be put under scanner and definitely sidelined at the end of the exercise.
‘418 Bars Will Remain Closed’
Sudheeran reiterated that the 418 bars which were lying closed in the state since April 1, on account of non-renewal of bar licences, would continue to remain so.
“The KPCC general body had expressed its opinion in this regard. The general sentiments were totally against re-opening of the 418 bars,” the KPCC president told reporters.
“Not only this, bars which are functioning and do not have adequate facilities also should be closed down,” Sudheeran said.
A Guarded Response on Mani Issue
Sudheeran feigned ignorance on rumoured moves of the Left parties to rope in KC (M) into its fold with an offer to make K M Mani the Chief Minister. “The KPCC is not aware of it,” he said. On queries related to a possible Cabinet revamp,the KPCC president said the exercise is not related to his personal domain,in an apparent reference to his consistent stand that the topic is the prerogative of the CM but no discussions have been held at the party-level.