Congress High Command Issues Ultimatum to Kerala Leaders Amidst Disunity; Reorganization List Release Uncertain Before Local Polls

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress High Command has expressed severe dissatisfaction with the persistent disunity among the state Congress leadership. Rahul Gandhi issued a stern warning to state leaders summoned to Delhi for reconciliation talks, emphasizing that continued factionalism would lead to significant setbacks in the upcoming local and assembly elections, and that the party cannot afford to move forward divided. This public revelation of deep-seated discontent within the leadership comes amidst ongoing uncertainty surrounding the reorganization of District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) secretaries.

KPCC President Sunny Joseph and the working presidents have reportedly expressed their displeasure over the inability to convene a leadership meeting that includes the newly appointed office-bearers, despite the initial list of KPCC reorganization being released. Deepa Das Munshi, the AICC General Secretary in charge of Kerala, is also understood to have conveyed her resentment over the repeated postponement of the leadership meeting. In a direct address, Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan openly stated that he is not being adequately consulted regarding KPCC’s operational matters. Reports indicate that Satheesan further informed the central leadership that the party in the state is not effectively controlled by the KPCC President, suggesting that the working presidents have “hijacked” the party’s functioning.

Conversely, some leaders have communicated to the High Command that the Opposition Leader continues to exhibit the same level of non-cooperation with Sunny Joseph as was observed during K. Sudhakaran’s tenure as president. Shashi Tharoor, who engaged in separate discussions with both Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, also registered his disapproval of the actions taken by the disunited state leadership. Consequently, significant ambiguity persists regarding whether the reorganization list for DCC presidents and KPCC secretaries can be finalized and announced before the crucial local body elections.