The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee on Thursday delved into the running controversy over the statements of Youth Congress leaders by banning public debate on the issue.
Addressing a press conference here after a leadership meeting, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala blew hot and cold over the statements made by the Youth Congress leaders at the organisation's State convention held at Kollam the other day.
He said he had taken exception to some of the words used by the leaders but was willing to allow them the liberty to express their opinion. As far as the Congress party was concerned, it was duty bound to carry all sections of the people along with it, giving adequate representation to youth, new faces and old and experienced persons.
He also did not see anything wrong in party leaders holding on to their electoral constituencies because it was a reflection of the popular acceptance and their contributions to their respective constituents.
The party leadership had already made it known that Youth Congress leaders would be given the consideration they deserved. There was nothing wrong in the Youth Congress toeing a different line from the party.
“I did it when I headed the organisation. The Youth Congress has always held its own positions,” he observed. With regard to the selection of candidates, the Congress party had a process of doing this, which was based on the winning chances of the candidates, he said.
The Congress leadership meeting here has announced the first of its planned series of agitations beginning from April 20 against the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's alleged failure to ensure effective administration.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday soon after the leadership meeting, Mr. Chennithala said two lakh Congress workers would court arrest as part of the party's picketing programme under the respective block Congress committees. This would be followed by picketing of the District Collectorates on May 5 and picketing of the Secretariat on May 6.
The agitations, which have been planned in the run-up to the local bodies elections, are intended to highlight the LDF government's “all- round failure in tackling price rise, implementing various development programmes and against the deteriorating law and order situation.”
He said that at least 1,000 Congress workers from each of the 280 block Congress committees will court arrest by picketing a State government office coming under their domain.
Mr. Chennithala said it had been decided to conduct the organisational polls ahead of the local bodies' election. State Returning Officer M Krishnaswami will take necessary steps as soon as the scrutiny of membership is over. The KPCC had received the scrutiny report from 10 districts and the report from the remaining four would be available in the next couple of days.
