The Congress top brass has once again gone for a cosmetic change of leadership at its state unit. By bringing in Mullappally Ramachandran, who would replace M M Hassan as KPCC chief, it has done a neutral act. But the deep divisions in the state unit remains.
The appointment is again seen as an act of community-based politics of the Congress. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala hails from the Nair community. So the Congress top brass apparently wanted a pick from Ezhava community. Group equations have also come into play. A and I groups have been given key posts. Oommen Chandy lieutenant Benny Behannan has been appointed convenor of the United Democratic Front and K Muraleedharan, who is more in sync with Chandy, has been anointed as chairman of election campaign committee.
To placate I group, K Sudhakaran, M I Shanavas and Kodikkunnil Suresh have been appointed as working presidents.
The politics of appeasement is coming into play, but the Congress is not imbibing the grass root level scenario.
With just less than a year for Lok Sabha polls, the Congress in Kerala seems to be losing its trajectory. The High Command had a leeway to put its foot down, but it lost the opportunity.
Unless Mullappally works wonders, a political and electoral debacle loom large for the grand old party in Kerala.
