Members of the Political Affairs Committee resent the delay in the reshuffle of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee

A KPCC Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting is underway at Indira Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

At the KPCC Political Affairs (PAC) meeting held at Indira Bhavan on Thursday, consternation was evident over the Congress high command’s delay in rejigging the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and District Congress Committees (DCC).

In the first PAC meeting after the new government took over, the members almost unanimously demanded that the high command take urgent steps to revamp the organization, which has been in a state of inertia since the Congress-led government came to power in Kerala.

“The KPCC president has almost relinquished his role as he is busy running the power department. Three months after he voluntarily relinquished the post of party president in the state, the central leadership is yet to act. The high command has been quick to appoint full-time office bearers in states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu when the need arose. Apart from president Sunny Kerala Joseph, there are also two KPCC presidents from Kerala Joseph. It is no different at the DCC level, where as many as five are serving as legislators DCC presidents,” the leader said after the meeting, which was also attended by AICC general secretary in-charge of Kerala Deepa Dasmunsi.

Another leader criticized that while the government had made an “impressive” start by clearing all social pension arrears, organized Onam celebrations fairly well and launched a crackdown on drugs through Operation Toofan, the party was unable to hold a meeting to discuss ways to take its achievements to the people. “A reluctant president is a burden for the party. The connection with the government is therefore lost for the people,” he added.

On PM-SHRI

In the meeting, Chief Minister VD Satheesan also explained why the government had set up a three-member cabinet sub-committee to examine the feasibility of continuing with the PM-SHRI scheme. While it would not be possible to withdraw from the MoU signed by the previous government with the Centre, if the government decided to go ahead, it would ensure that the power to formulate the curriculum and decide which schools should be included in the scheme rests with the state, he reportedly told the PAC members.

Discussions within the party would also take place before the government’s liquor policy was drawn up. On the issue of sharing the administration of boards and corporations among the UDF folds, Mr. Satheesan reportedly said that the party could set criteria for selecting appointees to the corporations allotted to it. “The CM and PCC president will define the leaders to be appointed,” said a PAC member, adding that a decision on sharing boards and corporations would be taken by September 15.

Mr. Joseph told the media that Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan’s speeches in Taliparamba and Payyannur — CPI(M) strongholds wrested by UDF-backed CPI(M) rebels — were undemocratic and intimidating. He called on the CPI(M) general secretary to explain the differing positions of Mr. Vijayan and the party’s central leadership on what led to the Left’s defeat in the elections.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 21:28 IST