The resignation of former KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran from the AICC has put the current leadership of the state Congress unit, which has been trying to transform the party into a 'semi-cadre' system, in a tight spot. He had announced his resignation from the political affairs committee of KPCC yesterday.
Sudheeran has tendered his resignation citing differences with the current KPCC leadership, whom he accused of taking unilateral decisions and implementing it in an undemocratic way. Incidentally, his resignation from the AICC has come at a time when the high command specifically communicated to the KPCC that they should do everything possible not to let someone like Sudheeran, who has a very good public image, leave the party.
Following the high command's directive, opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan had visited Sudheeran's house yesterday. But, Sudheeran was not willing to budge and resigned from the AICC too. What could create more headache for the KPCC leadership is the fact that senior leaders like former CM Oommen Chandy and former leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala have thrown their lot behind Sudheeran and have asked the KPCC leadership to sort out the issues at the earliest. "KPCC leadership should try to find out what has hurt Sudheeran and must bring him back,'' said Oommen Chandy. Ramesh Chennithala has asked the current leadership to be more inclusive. "They should try to take everyone into confidence,'' Chennithala said while responding to Sudheeran's resignation.
Meanwhile, AICC secretary Tariq Anwar, who is in charge of the state, has flown in to sort out the issues that are plaguing the party which is undergoing a transition. "I will try to find a solution to the issue,'' Anwar said while talking to the media.
Unlike previous resignantions from the party, including that of its organisation general secretary K.P. Anilkumar, Sudheeran's resignation has created quite a tremor.
"Sudheeran's resignation is not like the other resignations from the party. He was a former KPCC president and is highly respected for his clean image. Hope the KPCC leadership will not let him go,'' one of the newly appointed DCC presidents told The WEEK, comparing it to a few other previous resignations from the party.
Former KPCC president Mullappilli Ramachandran too, meanwhile, came out publicly against the current leadership today. "There is no proper discussion happening in the party. The leadership needs to be more inclusive and should win the trust of both the senior and junior leaders," he said.
KPCC president K. Sudhakaran, however, said there are no major issues in the party. "Even if there is, we will sort it all out through discussions. Ours is an inclusive leadership,'' he said.