The Congress high command on Saturday gave senior leader M.M. Hassan temporary charge of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president.
Mr. Hassan, who is currently KPCC vice president, will hold charge till a new president is appointed.
The appointment was announced by All India Congress Committee general secretary Janardan Dwivedi.
The KPCC president’s post fell vacant when V.M. Sudheeran announced his surprise resignation about two weeks ago.
The temporary arrangement had to wait till AICC president Sonia Gandhi returned from the U.S. where she had gone for medical treatment.
There was also pressure on the party high command to appoint the KPCC president in view of the Malappuram Lok Sabha byelection on April 12.
Mr. Hassan’s appointment as temporary KPCC president was along expected lines. A section in the Congress also believes that the temporary appointment was an indication that the election of full-time president will be delayed till organisational elections.
He would assume charge on Sunday. He told mediapersons that he would soon join the election campaign in Malappuram.
The party high command selected Mr. Hassan since he is senior to many contemporary Congress leaders. Even among the KPCC vice presidents, he is the senior-most. Known as a hardcore supporter of A.K. Antony, Mr. Hassan’s loyalties have reportedly vacillated.
At present, he is known to have pitched his support for former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. He was a Minister in the Antony Cabinet from 2001-2005. He was selected as party spokesperson for his felicity in handling the media. He is also the managing director of Jaihind Television and chairman of the Janasree Mission.
