Thiruvananthapuram, 12 Nov (H.S.): Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh on Thursday asserted that he was qualified to become president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), citing his organisational experience, acceptance across sections and record of handling responsibilities entrusted to him.

Speaking to reporters after offering prayers at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple to mark the 90th anniversary of the Temple Entry Proclamation, Suresh said the Congress national leadership would decide who should head the party’s Kerala unit.

“I cannot say who will become KPCC president. That decision rests with the national leadership, which will make an announcement at the appropriate time,” he said.

Suresh said the selection of a KPCC president involved several considerations, including community representation and acceptability. Congress, he maintained, took all such factors into account and did not exclude any section.

Pointing to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s Dalit background, he said the party had consistently provided positions of responsibility to people from disadvantaged communities to bring them into the social mainstream.

Outlining his credentials, Suresh said he had fulfilled every assignment given to him by the party, serving as a Member of Parliament, Union minister, All India Congress Committee secretary and vice-chairman of the Nehru Yuva Kendra.

He also recalled working alongside Sonia Gandhi for 12 years as parliamentary party secretary and said he was currently serving as chief whip alongside Rahul Gandhi.

According to Suresh, neither fellow MPs nor party leaders had raised complaints about his performance. He added that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi appreciated his work.

His remarks set out his claim to the state leadership position while leaving the final choice to the central leadership.

Reiterating that he enjoyed acceptance across different sections, Suresh presented his experience in government, Parliament and the party organisation as the basis for his assertion that he was suited to lead the KPCC.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman