KPCC meet ends without ruckus

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The meeting of the office-bearers of the KPCC here on Friday ended as a tame affair, with factional representatives of ‘Broad I’ and ‘A’ groups playing down their differences over a say in the control of the police force, even as a few followers of Congress MP K Sudhakaran greeted him outside with hail slogans when he arrived for the meet.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy kept away from the meet, with the declared concurrence of Ramesh Chennithala, to attend various public functions in the Malabar region. As such, no serious debate reflecting the simmering feud between the two factions, which spilled over to the streets in recent days, cropped up at the meet, according to sources.However, criticism and counter-criticism were aired on controversial statements of many leaders recently, especially by Union Minister Vayalar Ravi and KPCC spokesman M M Hassan.In consonance with the patch-up formula arrived at the parleys  between Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala two days ago, the meet resolved to strengthen the coordination between the government and the party. Sudhakaran was prevailed upon by senior leaders to talk to the Chief Minister and KPCC president to settle outstanding issues, if any, to which he responded positively. It was also decided to announce the Congress nominees for various Boards and Corporations on Saturday itself.The meet also witnessed the implementation of the ‘one man-one post’ rule in the party with T N Pratapan MLA tendering resignation from the post of KPCC general secretary.Chennithala said that the meet took strong exception to the CPM strategy ‘to cash in on Jesus Christ’’ by misusing his portraits for publicity for the upcoming  state conference ahead of the 20th party congress. “It is deplorable. The CPM should keep away from wounding the sentiments of the faithful,’’ he said.“Putting up the boards of Swami Vivekananda, Sree Narayana Guru and such social reformers is understandable. But it cannot be so with Jesus Christ. The CPM is acting like a Satan which had confronted Jesus in the desert,’’  he said.