KPCC launches probe into Palode Ravi's leaked phone call

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has ordered an internal inquiry into the leak of former Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee (DCC) president Palode Ravi’s phone conversation. A disciplinary committee chaired by senior leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will investigate the matter. The panel will probe various aspects, including the alleged involvement of party members in the leak.

On Saturday, Palode Ravi resigned from the DCC president post after his leaked phone conversation triggered a controversy. Following this, the party appointed former Assembly Speaker and senior Congress leader N Sakthan as the interim DCC chief.

The controversy
In the audio clip, Palode Ravi is heard saying that the Congress party will become irrelevant after the upcoming local body elections if it continues to function in its current manner, and that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) will retain power for a third consecutive term. The leaked conversation was between Ravi and a local leader.

KPCC chief Sunny Joseph announced the expulsion of Vamanapuram Block General Secretary A Jaleel—whose eight-minute phone conversation with Ravi was leaked to the media—from the party's primary membership for engaging in “anti-organisational activities.”

In the clip, Ravi is heard saying that the Congress would slip to third position, behind the BJP. “In the panchayat elections, Congress will slip to third place. In the Assembly elections too, we will fare poorly. Congress will come third in around 60 constituencies. The LDF will continue in power, and this will mark Congress’s decline,” Ravi said.

He also claimed that many who currently support the Congress would shift to the BJP or other parties. “Congress has people on the ground in only 10 per cent of areas. There is no sincerity or mutual affection among workers,” he is heard saying in the voice clip.

The Congress leader faced severe criticism following the leak, especially as the state prepares for the upcoming local body polls. The KPCC leadership sought an explanation from Ravi regarding the matter. Party sources said Ravi was asked to resign on the instructions of the AICC leadership.