Kerala Congress faces fresh fault lines as senior leaders voice dissent

P. J. Joseph, chairperson of Kerala Congress | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran

The Kerala Congress (KC) is facing growing internal discontent even as it awaits the government’s decision on a Cabinet-rank post for its chairperson. Six months after the Assembly elections, a section of senior leaders is staying away from party forums and questioning the way power is being consolidated under the present leadership.

At the centre of the discontent are allegations that Assembly seats were allocated on financial considerations, senior leaders were denied their due, and key decisions were taken without adequately consulting sections of the party.

The sharpest criticism is directed at the distribution of Assembly seats, with dissident leaders alleging that the Changanassery, Thiruvalla and Kuttanad seats were influenced by financial considerations.

On Idukki seat

Among those staying away from party forums is KC vice-chairperson Joseph M. Puthussery. Irinjalakuda legislator Thomas Unniyadan, too, has kept his distance from the party’s organisational activities for some time. A section of the Idukki district committee, meanwhile, remains unhappy with the decision to give up the Idukki Assembly seat, the home turf of party chairperson P.J. Joseph, in favour of Kuttanad.