Thiruvananthapuram: Hectic efforts are on to find a consensus on the party restructuring move, which has sparked a crisis in the State Congress unit.
The party high command's intervention has added pace to the efforts to clear the deadlock over restructuring, and to hold organisational elections according to the party calendar.
The All-India Congress Committee or the high command ordered a stay on the reorganisation process a couple of days ago after a section of MPs from Kerala complained about the partisan manner in which new functionaries are being shortlisted by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
KPCC president K Sudhakaran had announced while taking charge in June last that the party restructuring would be completed within six months.
Despite many hurdles that arose out of group interests and attempts to scuttle the move, the KPCC went ahead with its plan. Sudhakaran has made clear his unwillingness to continue as KPCC president if the plan, now in its final phase, is dropped.
Sudhakaran dodges blame
Sudhakaran, meanwhile, has put Opposition Leader V D Satheesan in a spot by saying that the final draft of the list of new office-bearers has been forwarded to the latter for his consideration and recommendations. The statement has been viewed as both a move for a consensus and a trap.
With Sudhakaran passing the ball, Satheesan now shares the responsibility to address the complaints, including that of party MPs from Kerala. The Opposition Leader is not keen on shouldering the responsibility for the delay in finalising the list and for the high command's intervention at the last moment.
The KPCC leadership, meanwhile, has adopted a stand that the list will be published once they receive Satheesan's recommendations.
Hectic parleys on
The KPCC office witnessed hectic parleys on Wednesday also. Leaders such as Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan attended the talks, which decided to release the list without much complaints. The meetings also decided not to act against the high command's wishes.
Factions seek say
The 'A' group had demanded that senior leader Oommen Chandy should be shown the list before its release. The demand was made to ensure the inclusion of those in the priority list. The group has so far been kept in the dark over the number of leaders who would be included from each district.
The 'A' group has also demanded the KPCC to pacify those who will be excluded from the list.
The 'I' group, meanwhile, conveyed that it was reposing its trust on the KPCC leadership. The group had earlier demanded to accommodate those expelled from DCCs in the executive. However, the executive won't be formed at its juncture.
Delay upsets high command
Meanwhile, the central leadership is miffed over the delay in commencing the membership campaign in Kerala. AICC observer G Parameshwara, who visited the State last week, had conveyed the high command's displeasure over the delay. He also informed the KPCC that the party's election calendar could not be altered for only one State.
The KPCC will have to roll out the membership campaign this week itself even if a final decision is not made on the party restructuring.
