Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V.M. Sudheeran is understood to have communicated to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy that he is against reopening the 418 bars.
Going a step further, he has demanded a review of the standards of the existing bars and the closure of those found to be below par.
Mr. Sudheeran, who was earlier willing to go half-way by accepting a proposal to reopen the bars that have two-star licence, has now toughened his stance by totally opposing their reopening ostensibly on the basis of a strong public opinion against the proliferation of liquor dens. KPCC sources said the Lehari Viruddha Vedhi, organised by the KPCC across the State on the occasion of World Anti-Narcotics Day, was a reflection of the growing public opinion with people cutting across political lines participating in the programmes.
Government statistics also show that law and order has improved considerably, not to mention the fall in road accidents.
The closure of the bars has resulted in a positive impact. The fears that there will be a hooch tragedy have also been belied , the sources said.
The sources said Mr. Sudheeran is understood to have taken a stance that the government should boldly present its policy perspective against the 418 bars rather than putting the onus on the High Court, when it deals with the case before it.
