Thiruvananthapuram, 09 March (H.S.):

Internal divisions within the Congress party in Kerala have intensified ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, following the conclusion of the party’s “Puthuyuga Yatra” campaign aimed at strengthening unity within the party and the United Democratic Front (UDF). The rift became evident when Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan stayed away from a crucial steering committee meeting convened on Sunday to discuss the party’s candidate list for the Assembly elections.

The meeting was called by steering committee chairman and senior Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry, who had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday to oversee the discussions. However, Satheesan reportedly left the state capital early Sunday morning, skipping the meeting entirely. The Leader of the Opposition’s office later confirmed his absence.

According to reports, Satheesan chose to boycott the meeting in protest against what his supporters described as attempts within the party to undermine the impact of the recently concluded Puthuyuga Yatra. Leaders close to Satheesan alleged that certain developments during the final day of the yatra were part of a coordinated effort to divert media attention away from the campaign.

A Satheesan loyalist claimed that rumours about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s busy schedule on the day of the yatra’s conclusion were circulated deliberately to shift focus from the event. Around the same time, reports also emerged suggesting that AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal might contest the Assembly elections from the Alappuzha constituency. According to Satheesan’s camp, these developments were part of a planned attempt to overshadow the yatra.

Satheesan supporters further alleged that attempts to weaken the campaign had begun even before the yatra started. They said that Satheesan had submitted a list of national leaders who could address gatherings in various district centres along the route, but the party high command did not respond. The absence of prominent national leaders, they argued, could have affected turnout. However, thousands of people reportedly participated in the yatra, which they say reflects strong public support for the campaign.

Meanwhile, another section within the Congress has criticised Satheesan’s leadership style, accusing him of running the campaign in an authoritarian manner. Some leaders pointed out that the first set of posters for the yatra carried only Satheesan’s image, and revised posters were printed only after senior leaders, including those from the Indian Union Muslim League, intervened.

There were also reports that Satheesan had attempted to exclude UDF convener Adoor Prakash from the yatra. Leaders close to Prakash reportedly expressed displeasure over what they described as his marginalisation during the campaign.

Tensions further escalated over the centenary celebrations of the historic meeting between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi held in Kollam on March 6. Some leaders alleged that Satheesan’s camp tried to postpone the event, fearing that the participation of party workers from Kollam to Kottayam would reduce attendance at the yatra’s concluding function on March 7. However, the event eventually went ahead, though with reduced scale and expenditure.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman