Group war in Congress set to rear its ugly head

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Slowly but steadily, group war in the state unit of Congress is all set to come out in the open after a long gap with lower rung leaders of the ‘I’ group feeling terribly isolated and sidelined as the ‘A’ group has seemingly gained virtual control of the police department.Rupturing the hard-earned camaraderie between the two groups, the issue is poised to snowball into a major litmus test for the Oommen Chandy-led UDF Government, as MLAs in the ‘broad I group,’ guided by KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala had met here a few days back and took stock of the situation. The issue is fuelled by grassroots-level angst of  ‘I’ group workers, even when there exists a good rapport between state leadership of  the party and the government.The widening rift between the A and I groups is mainly because of the discontent among the supporters and leaders of the latter, pointing out that A group leaders are not willing to dilute their say in matters related to police and maintenance of law and order at the local level. That cops are willing only to follow the diktats of “those regarded close to the Chief Minister who holds the Home portfolio and his A group, has made the I group men desperate and furious. “All concerned should take particular care that party workers does not  run from pillar to post to meet their small demands. Local-level party work could be carried out only by gaining the confidence of the people,”  said KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, without hiding his disenchantment but remaining guarded on his reaction when contacted by Express. “It will be good for all not to create problems unnecessarily,” Ramesh said. It is alleged by I group leaders that Benny Behanan MLA and P T Thomas MP, both blue-eyed boys of Chandy, are calling the shots in the police department now. “This is a matter of serious concern since I group workers cannot venture out to address even small grievances of workers and party sympathisers related to the police department. It will definitely  create problems in the party,” warned a key functionary of the Congress.The I faction has already convened meetings in various districts against the A group hegemony. Among the 16 MLAs identified with the I group who met after the KPCC executive meeting last week, a few had even suggested vociferously that Ramesh should stake claim for chief ministership during the second half of the five-year tenure of the government. The Piravom by-election is the only deterrent which prevented the group votaries from going on an all-out offensive. The Congress legislature party comprises 38 MLAs.P T Thomas MP denied the allegations and said that except in matters related to Idukki, he had no time to spare. The rift has even reportedly affected  scientifically conducted organisational polls of the State INTUC unit.