The Congress-government coordination committee has called upon party leaders “not to mar the prevailing political climate in favour of the United Democratic Front through unwanted and avoidable rhetoric”.
Addressing the media here on Monday afternoon, after a meeting of the panel at the Congress Bhavan, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V.M. Sudheeran said the decision was binding on UDF constituents too.
All leaders had been directed not to air their personal views in public.
“Such opinion should be voiced only on party forums. Statements pertaining to selection of candidates for the Lok Sabha election should also be avoided.”
Mr. Sudheeran said the decision was taken by the panel, particularly after discussing Sunday’s statements of party leader and Kannur MP K. Sudhakaran “which was at variance with AICC president Sonia Gandhi’s call at Kochi on Saturday to shun factional politics and take the party forward with unity”.
He said the AICC president’s decisions were final and all party workers were bound by it.
“Mr. Sudhakaran should not have made such a statement. Mr. Sudhakaran is a leader who has made valuable contributions to the party and it is not known in what context he made the statement.”
Mr. Sudheeran said KPCC vice-president V.D. Satheesan had taken up the issue with Mr. Sudhakaran. The meeting, presided over by Mr. Sudheeran, was attended by senior leaders, including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.
Former KPCC presidents C.V. Padmarajan, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, and K. Muraleedharan, UDF convener P.P. Thankachan, Transport Minister Aryadan Mohammed, Mr. Satheesan, M.M. Hassan, and K.M.I. Methar were present.
Marines’ caseMr. Sudheeran said the panel suggested that the government initiate legal measures, if necessary, for making provisions of the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf (SUA) Act applicable in the prosecution proceedings against the two Italian marines arrested in connection with the killing of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012.
