THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ( KERALA ): Though the UDF Government in Kerala has managed to cross over the challenge posed by the bar licence issue, the damage it has done to the leading partner Congress Party’s unity has reportedly irked Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who was forced to take the extreme step of closing the 312 bars currently functional in the state along with the 418 bars which have been remaining closed for the last four months, is visibly annoyed at the way he had been coerced by the KPCC president V M Sudheeran.
Sonia Gandhi and the central leadership are worried about the latest development in the state unit of the party.
In the given situation, Congress cannot afford to have its mass base eroded further in a state like Kerala which is the last point at which the party can claim a foothold with confidence.
But when contacted, Sudheeran told ‘Express’ that the reports about the party high command expressing displeasure over the developments here was not true.
“In fact I don’t like to make any comment at this juncture. But, till this moment, neither Sonia Gandhi nor any other leader from the high command have contacted me or expressed any displeasure about my stand I had taken in the bar issue. As of now, I don’t want to react to the any comments by any leader here’’ he said.
The church leaders from the state also had come to New Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi on the other day and appraised her of the prevailing situation in the state.