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Groupism harming Congress: Speaker

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JUNE 14. The Kerala Assembly Speaker, Vakkom Purushothaman, said here on Saturday that groupism was harming the Congress. It had also led to sidelining of able and popular leaders in the party.

The Speaker told presspersons that a group of MLAs loyal to the party and the high command had come together with the objective of addressing this issue. The aim was not to function as a group or do bargaining. It was just a solidarity of like-minded MLAs and other leaders who had talked to him about their concerns.

Mr. Purushothaman said that groupism did not harm the party in the past. However, now a situation had developed in which persons loyal to a leader could corner positions even if they are corrupt or inefficient. This was not to say that all occupying positions in the party and Government were incompetent. There were capable men among them. However, more capable persons were outside. He said that several MLAs belonging to different groups had told him that they were prisoners of the groups. The group leaders used them for their personal gains. ``They are suffocating. Yet, they cannot leave their groups. This situation has to be changed.''

He said that most members of the Congress Working Committee did not support groupism in the State. He and others would be urging the high command to choose people for various positions on the basis of merit, and not on the basis of group.

Mr. Purushothaman said that he was making no attempt to upset the Government or become the Chief Minister. He was satisfied with his present post. If groupism was not there, the Government would have been stronger and it could have performed better. In an oblique reference to V.M. Sudheeran, the Speaker said that there was danger in Congressmen joining agitations with the Opposition. Matters of public interest should be raised in the party, and if not successful in that, they should leave the party.

He reiterated that the salaries and allowance received by MLAs were not sufficient for a decent living if they had no other income. At least MLAs with low incomes should be paid more.

Noting that the Opposition should not obstruct Assembly proceedings, the Speaker said that the Opposition would be the main beneficiaries if issues were debated in the House. He was willing to allow discussions on any important issue. However, he could permit them only according to the rules. If there were any drawbacks in the rules, the Rules Committee should look into it.

He said that programmes would be organised for members to hear experts in various fields. The first such programme would be about the Global Investor Meet and related issues. People with different view points on a subject too could be invited to address the members.

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