The deviant actions of two senior Congress leaders K. Sudhakaran, a former Parliament member; and A.K. Mani, vice president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, have put the party leadership in the State in a fix as it has threatened to undermine its political positions on the cases against the Nehru Group of Institutions and its promoter P. Krishnadas, and the Idukki encroachment issue.
In both these issues, the Congress leadership had sought to put the CPI(M)-led LDF government on the mat for its one-sided moves.
Mr. Sudhakaran has landed himself in trouble over his alleged attempts to mediate a settlement on behalf Dr. Krishnadas in a case related to the harassment of Shoukat Ali, a former student of the Academy of Law, run by the group. Dr. Krishnadas was arrested in connection with the complaint filed by Mr. Shoukat Ali, but was released on bail. The Nehru Group chairman is also in the dock for the death of Jishnu Pranoy, another student of the Nehru group.
KPCC president M.M. Hassan, addressing a press conference soon after a meeting of the party’s political affairs committee here, disowned Mr. Sudhakaran’s action, stating that it was not the party’s official position. He said he would seek a personal explanation from Mr. Sudhakaran before proceeding further.
Mr. Sudhakaran should not have played the mediator's role in an issue in which the Congress had strongly opposed the partisan manner in which the LDF government had handled the issue, with a soft corner for the Nehru Group chairman. “There is no change in the Congress’s and the UDF’s stand on the Nehru College issue”, Mr. Hassan said.
Mr. Mani fell foul of the KPCC over his stand on the Munnar eviction issue. He had refused to accompany former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on a visit to the areas where encroachment had taken place. Mr. Hassan had sought a written explanation from Mr. Mani, who continued to be errant by accompanying a delegation of Idukki leaders seeking the ouster of subcollector Sriram Venkitaraman even after giving his explanation to the party leadership.
Mr. Hassan said Mr. Mani’s action was against the party’s proclaimed stand on the evictions in Idukki, particularly Munnar. He would seek further clarification on Mr. Mani’s actions before going head with further action, he said.
But the problem that Mr. Hassan is going to face is connected to the factional moorings of the two leaders, who have carved out a spot for themselves in Kannur and Idukki. Mr. Sudhakaran has been with the Chennithala faction and Mr. Mani with the Chandy faction.
