The two-day marathon meeting of over 100 key Congress workers which concluded here on Sunday were “yet to identify the reasons” for the party’s poor showing in the Legislative Assembly elections, according to its State president V.M. Sudheeran.
At a press meet, Mr. Sudheeran said the meeting to discuss the “outcome of the elections” was free of rancour, personal attacks, or calls for his ouster. The KPCC president’s denial came against a backdrop of television scrolls that he had come under severe criticism for “foisting on the government an impractical and utopian liquor policy that was far removed from Kerala’s social, economic and political realities.”
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The news reports, which claimed to be based on real time inside information on the discussions, also alleged that Mr. Sudheeran was sharply attacked for undermining the chances of select cabinet Ministers by refusing to endorse their candidatures till the last minute, thereby creating an impression that they were “unwanted by the party.” Mr. Sudheeran said the reports were far from the truth. “The scrolls had prompted many leaders to suggest that we should henceforth allow journalists into our meetings,” he said. He firmly reiterated that the Congress would not roll back its liquor policy.
Rejuvenation attempt
A committee headed by V.D. Satheeshan would formulate policy guidelines to rejuvenate the party from the grassroots level. They would be circulated to all party units for their opinion.
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Four “fact-finding teams” have been constituted to examine the party’s electoral performance in 12 districts. The CPI(M) and the BJP were strange bedfellows. They clashed openly but helped each other electorally in secret. The CPI(M) had engineered the communal and caste polarisation that characterised the polls. The Congress would organise a Statewide protest against fuel price hike on June 20.
The retreat was held in a sprawling Congress facility that overlooked the scenic catchment area of the Neyyar dam.