Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 9 (PTI) In his first public comments against allegations of unilateral decision-making and sidelining the UDF convenor, Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday asserted that all his decisions were in consensus with the top Congress leaders, remarks that rebutted suggestions of a rift within the ruling camp barely four months into power.
In an exclusive interview with PTI Videos, Satheesan referred to UDF convenor Adoor Prakash’s criticism that he was not informed when two Cabinet ranking posts were given to the coalition partner IUML and Forward Bloc. Prakash has also spoken out against Satheesan’s style of functioning.
Without naming Prakash, Satheesan said, “the problem is somebody is saying that I’m not discussing with anybody.”
However, he pointed out in the interview that the Cabinet includes the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph, two former KPCC presidents, a Congress working committee member, two Congress PCC working presidents, youth Congress state president and two women leaders, which he said represents almost the entire cross-section of the leaders from various sectors.
This means that “we are discussing everything with party leaders. For policy matters, I will discuss with party. For administrative matters there is no need to discuss with the party, right? Day today affairs there is no need to discuss with the party. For policy matter, the party will lead us. Party’s policies we are implementing,” he said in response to a question whether the political infighting in the Congress is the party’s bane.
“The Congress is a different party. It is not like the BJP. I am the chief minister of the state, and anyone in the party can disagree with me. They can even criticise me, including youngsters who are coming up in the party. I am not above criticism. If they point out that I am wrong, I will listen to them. If I believe they are mistaken, I will try to convince them,” he said.
This is the first time, Satheesan has spoken out since Prakash raised a storm over the issue, even going to party’s national president Mallikarjuna Kharge to complain.
Satheesan’s remarks assumed political significance as the Congress-led UDF government in Keralam is facing its first major internal rift barely four months into its tenure, with senior Congress leader and convener of the front Prakash recently openly questioning Satheesan’s style of functioning.
His recent complaint that key decisions are being taken without consultation, UDF meetings are not being held and that he himself is learning about important developments through the media points to a widening gap in coordination between the CM, the Congress organisation and coalition partners.
Addressing a press conference at the KPCC headquarters here recently, Prakash had said the UDF had not met for quite some time and blamed Satheesan, who is also the front’s chairman, for not taking the initiative to convene a meeting.
Prakash had said that there have been no UDF meeting in the last few days, and as UDF chairman, it is the CM who has to take the initiative. Since he has not communicated anything, Prakash said, he has not been able to convene another UDF meeting. PTI VJ TGB SA
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