Kerala Congress(B) chairman R. Balakrishna Pillai has stuck to his stand that his son and former Minister, K.B. Ganesh Kumar, should not be re-inducted into the State Cabinet.
Mr. Pillai told presspersons here on Monday that it was the party that had to decide if it required a Cabinet berth.
“There are differences between Ganesh Kumar and the party. I am bound to my commitment towards the party workers and not my son, who has worked against the interests of the party,” he said.
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He, however, said the party did not intend to seek Mr. Kumar’s disqualification as an MLA. The Nair Service Society (NSS) had not put forth any demand that urged the United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership to consider Mr. Kumar for a Cabinet berth. Mr. Pillai said he would be aware if the NSS had any such interest.
Reacting to criticism against the recent statements made by NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair and Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, Mr. Pillai said no political party in the State could deny the fact that community organisations and religious leaders played a significant role in politics.
“Most parties, irrespective of the fronts they belong to, request the support of such leaders prior to elections. It could be proved that (Leader of the Opposition) V.S. Achuthanandan had sought the assistance of the NSS and the SNDP Yogam in the run-up to the previous Assembly elections,” he said.
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Earlier, Mr. Pillai paid what he termed was a routine visit to the NSS headquarters at Perunna.
NSS reaction
NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair said Mr. Pillai and he had an open exchange of views on various issues. The divergent views on the re-induction of Mr. Ganesh Kumar into the Cabinet were discussed.
His remark that Mr. Kumar should be given top priority when filling the vacancy left by his resignation in the Cabinet was a general comment since all outstanding issues, other than those political, had been sorted out.
“The Chief Minister could take the initiative in finding a lasting solution in the conflict between Mr. Kumar and his party leadership and reinstate him in the Cabinet,” Mr. Nair said.
“I have been involved with the controversy right from the beginning and as such, firmly believe that I could make such a comment without consulting anyone.”
KPCC stance
On Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala expressing willingness for talks if the NSS or the SNDP Yogam had any grievances, he said it was a meaningless offer amounting to mockery. Neither the UDF nor the State leadership of the Congress had the capability to find a lasting solution to the problems on account of internal dissent.