By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : A section of Congressmen in Kerala are engaged in a war of words ahead of the organizational polls, with party’s Lok Sabha MP P.C. Chacko calling state unit chief Ramesh Chennithala as a leader “without even a dozen followers”.
Chennithala sought to downplay Chacko’s disparaging comments, but Lok Sabha members K.C. Venugopal and K. Sudhakaran criticized Chacko for his utterances against the state unit president.
Chacko, representing Thrissur, said recently that since party organizational polls are to take place shortly Chennithala should not function as or use the title of the party president.
On Wednesday Chennithala said that anyone who knows the basics of the party would not make such a comment.
“I do not wish to make any more comments on that,” he told reporters here.
Joining the issue with Chacko, Venugopal, MP from Alappuzha, told reporters here “it is surprising to hear such a statement from Chacko. It appears there is a hidden agenda behind his statement.”
Sudhakaran, representing Kannur, went a step further and said this is a clear case of violation of party discipline and action should be taken against Chacko.
An undeterred Chacko hit back saying Chennithala is being respected because he is a nominee of the All India Congress Committee.
“He is a leader who does not have even a dozen followers,” Chacko asserted.
The public squabble has erupted in the wake of reports that Congress leadership may opt for selection of state unit office bearers through consultation to avoid election in the faction-ridden party unit.