The ugly fight within the Kerala Congress splinter group aligned with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) took a turn for the worse with the group led by Scaria Thomas electing him chairman of the party in place of P.C. Thomas. The conclave, variously called ‘State committee meeting’, and a ‘convention’, also elected V. Surendran Pillai as its working chairman, and T.O. Abraham treasurer.
Inaugurating the meeting, Mr. Scaria Thomas said that the present problems were precipitated by Mr. Thomas who had ousted him even as reconciliation talks were in progress at the instance of the senior LDF leadership.
Mr. Scaria Thomas said that the party needed collective leadership at this moment when the followers of the Kerala Congress factions within the United Democratic Front (UDF) were a dejected lot following the allegations of corruption. The people are eager to bring the LDF back to power, and the Kerala Congress and its rank and file will have a crucial role in this regard, he said.
Mr. Pillai in his presidential address said he had made all efforts to iron out the differences between Mr. Scaria Thomas and Mr. Thomas when the latter decided to oust Mr. Scaria Thomas without consulting anyone. Mr. Pillai said he had advised Mr .Thomas not to go ahead with the decision when he came to know about it through media. He said Mr. Thomas’s style of functioning had adversely affected the party. This was the time to shore up the organisational strength to face the ensuing local bodies’ election.
