Chennithala flays Youth Cong leader's remark on Rahul Gandhi

Thiruvananthapuram: A youth Congress leaders statement that AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi should quit if he does not want to lead from the front drew flak Wednesday from former KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, who said the party is behind him and there is no need to question his leadership.

"Congress in the state is behind Rahul and there is no need to question his leadership", he told reporters here.

"Rahul is capable of leading the party and he had also been able to achieve success during hard times for the party, Chennithala added.

State Youth Congress Vice President C R Mahesh had triggered a row with his Facebook post that "Rahul should quit if he has no interest to lead the party from the front"

"You should open your eyes and see that the roots of the political party, that had spread its wings across the country, is now being uprooted," Mahesh had said.

He had also criticised CWC member A K Antony, terming the senior leader as a mouni baba.

Meanwhile Mahesh, in a press conference in Kollam, today announced he would be stepping down from the party position and leave politics for the time being.

Asked about the appointment of new KPCC President in the wake of V M Sudheeran quitting the post, Chennithala said a decision would be taken within two days.

He also said that former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had expressed his unwillingness to accept the position.

"The final decision rests with the party high command," he added.

Sudheeran had resigned from the position two weeks back, citing health reasons.

The Congress leader welcomed the statement of CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that the Malappuram bypoll result would be a referendum on the LDF government in the state. "Will Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan quit if the LDF candidate loses the election?," Chennithala asked.

He alleged that there was a tacit understanding between CPI(M) and BJP for the bypoll to defeat the Congress-led UDF candidate P K Kunhalikutty, a senior Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader from the state.

The Congress leader also said votes of secular forces in Uttar Pradesh was divided as the Left parties fought the polls alone instead of strengthening secular unity.

Chennithala said since Left parties has lost relevance at the national level, they should support UDF candidate Kunhalikutty, "who is fighting to safeguard secularism."

Attacking the ruling LDF government, he said the state governments inefficiency had resulted in lapse of Central funds under various centrally-sponsored schemes to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore.