KPCC seeks reconciliation in Keralam MLA Ramya Haridas fracas, warns workers against public disputes

KPCC President Sunny Joseph | Photo credit: K. Ragesh

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph on Friday signaled that the party would spare the rod and strike a middle ground in the late-night fracas involving Congress legislator Remya Haridas and two other party workers at a house in Chirayinkeezhu last week.

Mr. Joseph told reporters in Kochi that he had received a report from a commission of inquiry set up to probe the scuffle that had gone viral and caused considerable damage to the reputation of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government. “Congress workers should behave with respect. Reconciliation is the watchword of the KPCC. The party will resolve all lingering differences amicably,” he said.

Former KPCC president MM Hassan, who headed the committee, was not immediately available for comment.

However, KPCC officials familiar with the investigation said the commission indicted the parties involved in the conflict, which gave the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) sensational moves on social media to troll the Congress and the government and also divert media attention from the UDF government’s flagship “Re-Imagining the Indian Kerala” Retreat (IIMZKikode at Indian Kerala-Institute of Retreat).

They said the commission reportedly recommended that party lawmakers observe the responsibilities and etiquette that come with parliamentary privileges. KPCC sources said the commission also warned party workers against resolving internal disputes in person or in public.

A suitable party forum

Instead, they said, the commission emphasized that workers voice their grievances at the appropriate party forum, primarily the district congress committee, rather than acting alone, individually or in groups, so that such incidents do not undermine party unity and disrupt KPCC’s political and organizational messages.

A Congress insider said the commission also stressed the need for the KPCC to issue strict warnings to workers who violate party discipline, to discourage rank-and-file members from interpreting any hesitation by the leadership as an open charter for public disputes, while leaving ample room for expressions of remorse and course correction.

They noted that Chief Minister VD Satheesan recently accepted the apology of Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee (DCC) member Anil Kumar alias Chenthi Anil, who was expelled by the KPCC for blocking his motorcade.

Earlier, the KPCC reinstated former KPCC secretary P. Balakrishnan and other party workers who were suspended for “sending a wrong signal” to rank and file by attending the wedding of a Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M) leader) implicated in the 02 murder of Congress workers Kripesh and Sarath Kasa Lal at Perigoy.

Notably, the KPCC also reportedly had DCC Thiruvananthapuram general secretary A. Prijin Babu warned after the party issued him a show-cause notice for creating the impression of dissension in the top leadership over the post of chief minister by paying for newspaper advertisements vouching for Ramesh Chennithal to win the top post after the UDF victory.

In July, KPCC warned party spokespeople against airing internal party disputes on television talk shows. However, it stopped short of taking any disciplinary action.

Published – 11 Sep 2026 14:10 IST