THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Resentment is brewing among a section of leaders after a KPCC member close to Chandy Oommen was removed from the WhatsApp group of the Congress’ media cell.
J S Akhil, one of the 23 panellists formed by the party to represent it in media discussions, was on Thursday removed from the group for ‘violating party instruction’.
Akhil had participated in TV channel discussions and made statements related to Chandy Oommen’s allegation against the party leadership that he was not given any role in the Palakkad by-election campaign.
The KPCC had instructed the media cell not to depute any leaders in TV discussions centred on Chandy Oommen’s controversial statement. However, three leaders J S Akhil, N S Nusoor and V P Dulkifil participated in channel discussions. The KPCC general secretary media cell in charge Deepthi Mary Varghese had submitted a report to the KPCC leadership about the leaders’ action.
Meanwhile, Akhil alleged that he was removed from the group without notice. “This is retaliatory action after I participated in the channel discussion,” Akhil told TNIE.
“I only said that the party leadership has the responsibility to address the issues raised by Chandy Oommen,” he said.
However, Deepthi Mary Varghese told TNIE that she had informed the WhatsApp group members about the KPCC leadership’s decision to stay away from channel discussions.
“Akhil participated in the discussion violating this instruction,” she said. Deepthi also dismissed Akhil’s allegation that disciplinary action was taken against him.
“I have no authority to do so. I submitted a report to the KPCC. The other two were not part of the media cell. The removal of Akhil from the WhatsApp group is not part of any action and the group is not an official one,” she said.
It is learnt that some members raised the issue of Akhil continuing in the WhatsApp group even after he defied the party instruction, and this led to his removal.
However, Akhil said that the decision of the KPCC was informed in the group at 8.33 pm on the particular day. “I had already participated in the channel discussion by that time,” he said.
Meanwhile, KPCC leadership has said that it has never deputed anyone to the role of party spokesperson.