: All India Congress Committee vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday gave the thumbs down to factionalism among Kerala leaders, besides throwing his weight behind Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president V.M. Sudheeran.
Addressing a special meeting of 70-odd invited Congress leaders to discuss the reasons for the setback that the party faced in the recent Assembly elections and to gain clarity on the way forward by sorting out the post-election functional impasse in the party’s affairs, Mr. Gandhi is reported to have indicated that factionalism would not get any support from the party high command. Those who believed in factional politics were free to quit the party, he said.
Mr. Gandhi was not willing to buy the contention of the two prominent factions that Mr. Sudheeran was solely responsible for the party’s debacle in the Assembly elections. Sources pointed out that Mr. Gandhi promised to ensure that factional considerations would not be taken into account when the reorganisation of the party would be undertaken soon.
One-to-one meetings
The special meeting began several hours behind schedule and lasted for over two-hours. Soon after the meeting, Mr. Gandhi held one-to-one meetings with over 30 leaders, including legislators who had to return in time for Friday’s budget presentation in the Assembly.
Mr. Gandhi met Mr. Sudheeran, Congress Working Committee member A.K. Antony and Rajya Sabha vice chairman P.J. Kurien in the first round. The demand for a leadership change was not openly heard during the special meeting as leaders preferred to raise it during the direct conversation with Mr. Gandhi.
Mr. Gandhi is expected to complete his exercise by Friday, before forming his own opinion about the state of affairs in the State.
He would also meet party’s Parliament members, KPCC office-bearers, DCC presidents, and State presidents of feeder organisations.
While leaders belonging to the two factions are expecting the high command to act against Mr. Sudheeran to break the impasse, there are clear indications that Mr. Gandhi would extend his full support to Mr. Sudheeran, whom he appointed KPCC president ignoring the reservations of the other State leaders.
