Kerala polls: Congress MP Sudhakaran expresses displeasure over candidates' list

Kannur: Discontent is brewing in the Congress in Kerala over the selection of candidates for the April 6 assembly polls with senior party leader K Sudhakaran attacking AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal alleging him to be responsible for all troubles.

KC Venugopal is turning into high command on the back of the patronage he enjoys from Rahul Gandhi. All the prominent leaders from the different groups are generally discontented about this – which makes it clear that that the sentiment against KC Venugopal is without any group differences.

However, amidst Sudhakaran's blunt attack against Venugopal, KPCC working President Kodikunnil Suresh, took the line that he had a similar grouse, but was not inclined to protesting against it.

It is the protest against KC Venugopal's intervention in high command that people - who are usually away from the screening committee related to the selection of candidates - including K Muraleedharan expressed. Sudhakaran openly criticised that Rahul and Sonia were not the high commands but it was Venugopal.

Taking a dig at Venugopal, Sudhakaran claimed that the former has his own interests and has sneaked his people to the candidates' list in the name of having the party high command's support.

KPCC General Secretary, Sajeev Joseph who received a ticket in Irikkur is Venugopal's right hand man. It was the constituency which KC Joseph occupied for more than three decades that Venugopal took away from the A group and handed to his ally.

The defence raised by Oommen Chandy and K.C. Joseph was of no much value with Venugopal's leverage in Delhi. Congress's probability list was prepared in Kerala without much delay or tussle.

Leaders allege that the reason behind the delay in the decision making in Delhi was Venugopal; and as it happened in Irikkur constituency, he has added his allies in other constituencies as well.

The general disapproval emerging against Venugopal is without any group differences. Observers feel that if it grows at this scale further, that will change the equations prevailing in the group tussle within Kerala's Congress ranks. Sudhakaran is taking advantage of that situation by questioning Venugopal and claiming his slot. The loss of his much yearned KPCC presidency position is seen also as another reason behind his forthright attack against Venugopal.