Kerala - Alappuzha   

Gouri fires fresh salvo at Congress

ALAPPUZHA: Continuing her tirade against the Congress, Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS) leader K.R. Gouri said on Friday that the party was responsible for the failure of its allies in various elections.

Talking to presspersons here, Ms. Gouri said the Congress had regularly undermined the victory chances of its allies in the United Democratic Front (UDF) and that the responsibility for the failure of these parties squarely rested upon the Congress. Ms. Gouri had on Wednesday criticised the ‘failure' of the Congress in keeping the UDF a united force.

Reacting to Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy's remark that the UDF would continue as a united force and that Ms. Gouri should have aired her opinion within the front, Ms. Gouri said there was no use in talking about unity when the efforts of the Congress were towards destabilisation.

As for airing her opinion openly, the JSS leader said her complaints within the UDF on the issue had fallen on deaf ears and that whatever she said was not her personal opinion.

“What I said was the decision that was taken during the JSS party committee meeting. The party and the UDF are different entities and there is no need for permission from the UDF for the JSS to convene its party committees or to talk to the media,” she said.

Backing for rebels

Accusing the Congress of supporting several rebel candidates against JSS candidates in the previous local body elections, Ms. Gouri said this was the main reason why many JSS candidates, despite strong winning chances, had failed.

In Aroor, when she herself contested to the Assembly, the Congress block president there had issued a circular among Congress workers, asking them not to vote for her.

“I gave a copy of this circular along with my complaint to Mr. Chandy and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee leadership. So far, nothing has been done,” she said, pointing out that Kerala Congress(M) leader K.M. Mani or Indian Union Muslim League leader K.P. Kunhalikutty had not yet said anything contradicting what she had said on Wednesday.

Ms. Gouri reiterated that her remarks or the JSS decisions should not be seen as a signal that she or her party was leaning towards the Left Democratic Front (LDF). “That will never happen,” she said.

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