Thiruvanthapuram: The Congress in the state is on the back foot after its archrival CPI (M) invited two of its leaders to address the party's 23rd national conference in Kannur next month.
The Congress circles have been abuzz of late about the star leader Shashi Tharoor and Congress veteran K V Thomas being invited to speak at seminars to be held alongside the CPI (M) conference.
Also, political analysts have been curious about the development as CPM has kept everybody guessing at its choice of these two leaders.
Author Shashi Tharoor is to speak at a seminar on secularism and challenges, while K V Thomas may well discuss the State-Central relationship at a different seminar.
Congress leadership finally put its foot down banning party leaders from attending seminars organized by CPM.
Congress state president K Sudhakaran said participating in the CPM's seminar would develop contempt towards Congress as CPM is troubling people with the proposed K-Rrail project. He also said that leaders taking part in the seminar would face action.
Meanwhile Shashi Tharoor told reporters that he was not aware of the ban and he would decide on it after discussing with Sonia Gandhi in the event of any ban. He also said that there was nothing wrong in engaging in political dialogues, the party congress being a national meeting.
KV Thomas responded in similar vein saying he would decide on the seminar after discussing with the party high command.
CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan called out the ban on Congress leaders attending the seminar and termed it "political pauperism" of the Congress.