KPCC General Secretary writes to the President asking for an urgent meeting

A deepening rift has emerged in the Congress over the functioning of the UDF government, with senior KPCC leaders calling for transparency and internal consultations.

KPCC general secretary MR Abhilash has written to KPCC president Sunny Joseph to convene an urgent meeting of the party’s state committee to discuss the perceived lack of transparency in governance.

In his letter, which was handed over to Mr. Joseph in Ernakulam, Mr. Abhilash said that some decisions taken by the UDF government had become controversial and forced the government to withdraw some of them. Issues such as the reduction in sales tax rates on small-volume liquor and the latest proposal to transfer a stake in Vizhinjam Port have all made people question the government’s intentions, the paper said. It was therefore right for the party to meet to clarify its position internally.

Earlier, another KPCC general secretary, PM Niyas, asked the party leadership in the state and urged his intervention to revoke the appointment of N. Seshadrinathan, who allegedly had links with the RSS, as the state election commissioner.

“Chief Minister VD Satheesan then refused to grant a personal audience to Mr. Niyas,” said a senior leader on condition of anonymity. Several leaders expressed displeasure at how Mr. Satheesan brazenly went ahead with the selection without any consultation with his colleagues or the party, the leader said.

“The party machinery is almost defunct in the state. The KPCC president is busy looking after his ministry, as are the other two working presidents and a host of other senior leaders. Only a major rejig will breathe life into the inner workings,” the leader told The Hindu.

Published – 03 Jul 2026 22:16 IST