A leadership meeting of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Tuesday threw its full weight behind Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who is currently facing a strong Opposition agitation demanding his resignation in the so-called solar scam. The meeting termed the agitation a conscious attempt to tarnish the image of the government and the Chief Minister.
Addressing a press conference here after the meeting, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Mukul Wasnik, who has assumed charge of Kerala, said the Congress party would face the Left Democratic Front’s ‘baseless’ campaign against the Chief Minister politically. The problem with the LDF was that it had still not reconciled to the verdict of the people in the last Assembly elections. Apart from levelling baseless charges against the Chief Minister, the Opposition was behaving in an irresponsible manner by disrupting Assembly proceedings. The same was happening in Parliament also. And the elected bodies were unable to discuss and pass crucial legislation affecting the common man.
In reply to a question on the alleged lack of coordination between the party and the government, Mr. Wasnik said the party already had a mechanism in place and he did not agree to the view that it was not functioning well. The party would activate the mechanism as and when necessary.
Asked about the possible induction of Ramesh Chennithala into the Chandy Cabinet, Mr. Wasnik, while declining to discuss such issues in the media, maintained that the party would take an appropriate decision in an appropriate manner.
The AICC general secretary laid out his plans for the State unit, which would be basically focussed on enrolling voters in the electoral rolls.
The services of booth-level agents would be utilised, taking cue from the Election Commission’s directives. In the meeting, attended by KPCC office-bearers, District Congress Committee presidents, and MLAs, Mr. Wasnik underscored the importance of discipline in the party and warned that stern action would be taken against the violators.
The party leadership could not condone public debate on the problems in the party. “It is not enough to talk about unity. There should be conscious attempts to achieve unity of minds,” he said. Those who did not have time for party work would be shown the door. The party did not benefit from the continuance of such people in key positions.
Besides, it deprived opportunities to other dedicated party workers, he said.
The Congress party should work towards returning to power in the next Assembly election and buck the trend of alternating between the ruling and the opposition front. Mr. Wasnik congratulated the Chief Minister for winning the United Nations award for public service and Mr. Chennithala for completing eight consecutive years in office as PCC president.
