The Hindu : Kerala News : AICC leaders begin consultations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

AICC leaders begin consultations

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 9. The All-India Congress Committee delegation, comprising Margaret Alva and R. L. Bhatia, which began its ``fact-finding'' mission on the performance of the Government and the party in the State was today virtually greeted by divisive voices of factional leaders.

While the Karunakaran faction and the third group made out a case for the total revamp of the party, the fourth group, led by Vayalar Ravi, threw its hat in the ring by demanding a leadership change and a total reconstitution of the party.

Mrs. Alva and Mr. Bhatia met more than 65 leaders individually, mainly those belonging to the second rung in the party. Notable among them were the former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president, K. Muraleedharan, the party deputy leader in the Assembly, M.P. Gangadharan, and the Disciplinary Action Committee member, A. Charles. A majority of the leaders who called on the delegation were those who belonged to the Karunakaran faction, the third and fourth groups. Leaders of the Antony faction were away to attend the cremation of P. Balan.

The Karunakaran group demanded organisational elections from the booth level.

If this was not possible, it wanted a total revamp of the party set-up. It also made it clear that it was not for a leadership change, but wanted effective steps to bring the Government closer to people.

It demanded the expulsion of the former KPCC general secretaries, Rajmohan Unnithan and T. Saratchandra Prasad, from the party.

The KPCC general secretary, Joseph Vazhakkan, presented the third group's views. He demanded a total reconstitution of the party from the grassroot level and jettisoning of the quota system in distribution of various posts.

The group wanted a change in the Chief Minister's style of functioning.

The fourth group, represented by the KPCC general secretary, Ajay Tharayil, demanded a leadership change.

The faction, led by Vayalar Ravi, said organisational elections should be held immediately. The present KPCC should be disbanded and an ad hoc committee appointed till organisational elections are held, it said.

Mrs. Alva and Mr. Bhatia are scheduled to meet senior party leaders tomorrow, before giving their assessment report to the party president, Sonia Gandhi.

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