Rift in Keralam Congress? Senior MP slams CM Satheesan's working style

The Congress-led United Democratic Front government in Keralam is facing its first major internal rift just four months after taking office, with senior Congress leader and UDF convener Adoor Prakash openly questioning Chief Minister VD Satheesan's style of functioning.

Prakash, who is also a Lok Sabha MP, said key decisions were being taken without consultation, UDF meetings were not being held, and that he was learning about important developments through the media.

His remarks have brought differences within the ruling front into the open at an early stage of the government's tenure. Speaking at a press conference at the KPCC headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, Prakash said the lack of coordination between the Chief Minister, the Congress organisation and coalition partners had become a serious issue and added that he would raise his grievances with the Congress high command.

Prakash said the UDF had not met for quite some time and blamed Satheesan, who is also the front's chairman, for not taking the initiative to convene a meeting.

"There has been no UDF meeting in the last few days. As UDF chairman, it is the CM who has to take the initiative. Since he has not communicated anything, we have not been able to convene another UDF meeting," he said.

He said there were several matters that required discussion and decisions.

"There are many issues that have to be discussed and decisions taken," Prakash said, adding that he was often unable to answer questions from journalists and party workers because he himself had not been informed.

"Many of you ask me about various issues in my capacity as UDF convener. But I have not got an opportunity to give proper answers on many of these matters," he said.

Prakash said his criticism was not directed at individuals appointed to various posts, but at the manner in which the decisions were taken. The immediate issue was understood to be the reported Cabinet-rank appointments of IUML leader MK Muneer as chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission and Forward Bloc leader G Devarajan as Keralam's special representative in New Delhi.

Prakash said the UDF had not discussed the appointments and that he had not been informed about them. He said he was not suggesting that those chosen were ineligible. "But as UDF convener, I was not informed in any manner about these matters, either through a discussion or even that such a decision was going to be taken," he said.

He said he would take up the matter with the AICC, noting that he had been appointed UDF convener by the party high command. "I have no reason to hide these matters. I am sharing them with you because people should also know about them," he said.

"I also want to inform you that I will find a way to convey my displeasure over these matters to the All India Congress Committee," he added.

The UDF coordination committee had last met on July 30 and, according to sources, there had been an understanding that such meetings would be held regularly and that policy matters would be discussed in detail. But those plans did not materialise, the sources told news agency PTI.

Prakash linked the lack of coordination to the UDF's performance in the recent local body bypolls, saying the front had failed to make the expected gains in some wards and that the issue needed discussion. The UDF won 18 of the 38 wards where bypolls were held.

Prakash also referred to the controversy over Satheesan's chartered flight journey to Malappuram and said the chief minister had a responsibility to explain the circumstances to the public.

"Whether it is right or wrong is not the issue. The CM has a responsibility to clear the doubts that have been raised over these matters and convince the people," he said. "When such matters come up, the people should be convinced. That is all," he added.

Senior Congress leaders, however, sought to keep the matter within party and front forums. AICC general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal indicated that issues meant to be discussed within the party should be discussed there, while Benny Behanan said matters concerning the party and the UDF should be raised at the appropriate forums.

Senior IUML leader Muneer, whose appointment triggered part of the discussion, said he had not lobbied for the post and would wait for an official Cabinet briefing before commenting. "I am not someone who has been pursuing or lobbying for such a post," Muneer said. "Once the Cabinet briefing is held and we know what exactly happened inside the Cabinet, we can speak officially about it," he added.

Prakash maintained that his public remarks were not a personal attack on Satheesan, but a reflection of his responsibilities as UDF convener. His comments have now put the spotlight on coordination within the ruling front, the manner in which key decisions are being taken, and the demand from within the coalition for wider consultation.- Ends