Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday assured Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader M.V. Raghavan that any decision on the issue of the proposed government takeover of the Pariyaram Medical College would be taken after consultation with the latter.
Mr. Chennithala visited Mr. Raghavan at the latter’s residence here on Wednesday morning apparently to mollify the CMP leader who had publicly expressed his displeasure at the United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s move to take over the medical college now under the cooperative sector. The KPCC president was on his way to Kasaragod to start his ‘Kerala Yatra’ from Hossankadi in Manjeswaram on April 18. The veteran CMP leader had triggered speculation about the CMP parting company with the UDF and forging alliance with the Left Democratic Front (LDF), when he mentioned to Communist Party of India (Marxist) State unit secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, during the latter’s courtesy visit at his house on April 1, about the proposal for Left unity.
Sources close to Mr. Raghavan said the KPCC president conveyed to the veteran leader all procedures for the proposed takeover of the medical college would be suspended as any final decision would be taken after consulting with the CMP leaders.
The KPCC president also said that UDF convener P.P. Thankachan and he would meet Mr. Raghavan in Thiruvananthapuram after the conclusion of the yatra to discuss the issues relating to the medical college.
Mr. Chennithala told reporters that the issues raised by the CMP would be sorted out through talks.
The CMP’s fair demands would be considered, he said dismissing the speculation that the CMP would leave the UDF.
Clarification sought
It is for the Chief Minister to say whether the Cabinet decision to assess the assets and liabilities of the Pariyaram Medical College stands suspended, M.V. Jayarajan, chairman of the Kerala State Cooperative Hospital Complex and Centre for Advanced Medical Science, said here on Wednesday.
Mr. Jayarajan said the medical college had been back on track since the Left Democratic Front-controlled director board came to power.
