The factional feud in the district Congress between supporters of former MP K. Sudhakaran and party leaders, including Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary P. Ramakrishnan belonging to the rival camp, has resurfaced now over the issue of the disbanding of the director board of the Pallikkunnu Cooperative Bank here.
While Mr. Sudhakaran and Mr. Ramakrishnan are traditional rivals in the district Congress, the latest eruption of factional posturing between the rival camps supporting and opposing Mr. Sudhakaran is more pronounced as the traditional ‘A’ faction of the party leadership in the district has openly come out against the DCC leadership over the bank issue.
The trouble started over the dismissal of the director board following a complaint of irregularity submitted by three Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) members in the board with the backing of three Congress members, who are Sudhakaran loyalists.
The factional differences came out when the remaining six Congress members, including its president M.V. Pradeep Kumar, who are in the rival camp, staged a protest against the disbanding of the board.
KPCC intimated
Both the rival camps have brought the issue to the notice of the KPCC leadership.
While the meeting of the DCC convened here on January 9, which was boycotted by leaders of the anti-Sudhakaran camp, decided to call upon the KPCC leadership to intervene and act against Mr. Ramakrishnan for his alleged attempt to disparage the party by staging a sit-in at the Town Police Station here on January 7 night, the rival camp has also sought the intervention of the party leadership in the State.
Representation
Party leaders including Mr. Ramakrishnan, K.P. Nooruddin, former Minister, Satheeshan Pacheni, another KPCC general secretary, and A.D. Musthafa, United Democratic Front (UDF) district chairman, have sent a representation to KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala alleging that even party workers were not getting justice from the party leadership in the district.
‘Illegal means’
They said that a section of the party leadership resorted to illegal means to get the director board disbanded. Moreover, police personnel and anti-social elements had been used to manhandle the party leaders who had protested against the disbanding, they alleged.
While the pro-Sudhakaran camp is targeting Mr. Ramakrishnan and others for their alleged breach of party discipline, the rival group has alleged that some leaders are arrogantly trying to enforce their hold over the organisational structure of the party and the government machinery.
Bone of contention is the disbanding of the director board of the Pallikkunnu Cooperative Bank.
