Opposition V.D. Satheeshan publicly reacted against the veteran Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday, the factional war in the Congress' Kerala unit appears out of control.
V D Satheeshan condemned Chennithala's statement that President Ram Nath Kovind will be conferred DLitt and said that the actual version of the state Congress has been revealed to be what he and K. Sudhakaran have said. Members of the party rank and file have taken exception to this and some leaders have expressed their concerns about the arrogance of Satheesan, who beyond his public comments and fiery speeches in the assembly has no connection with party cadres.
Chennithala has allied with the veteran leader and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Chennithala and Chandy could emerge as an alternative power center within the Congress .
According to Congress sources, Chennithala and Chandy have already had numerous meetings with bottom-level leaders - that they know by their first names - as they try to regain the clout that they previously had in Congress power structure.
In the upcoming by-election for the Trikkakara Assembly constituency, to be held before June 2022, the present Congress leadership led by Satheesan and Sudhakaran will be facing the previous leadership of Chennithala, Chandy, and other key politicos.
Needless to say the situation of the present leadership will worsen if the party loses Tirkkakara, which is in a Congress stronghold, though that is unlikely.