KPCC president appointment delayed as Congress factions remain divided in Keralam

Thiruvananthapuram: The appointment of a new KPCC president is likely to be delayed further, with the Congress high command yet to begin fresh discussions on the issue. According to reports, amid the uncertainty, the central leadership has asked incumbent KPCC president Sunny Joseph to become more active in organisational affairs.

As part of the move, the KPCC Political Affairs Committee will meet at Indira Bhavan on September 3. Sunny Joseph is subsequently expected to visit all districts along with the three working presidents. Meetings of KPCC office-bearers and District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents will also be convened, while the possibility of calling a KPCC general body meeting is being considered.

Meanwhile, the prolonged delay has fuelled discontent within the Congress. The choice has become sensitive because of the competing interests of different factions within the party. According to reports, the high command is reportedly reluctant to rush the appointment because of concerns over State Congress's factional balance.

The delay has already drawn criticism from within the party. Senior Congress leaders constantly demanded that the organisational revamp be completed without further delay, arguing that Congress activities in Keralam had remained stagnant for nearly three months because there was no full-time state president.

The leadership vacuum has also affected coordination between the party organisation and the government. Congress had held only one organisational meeting since the government took office and that several DCC units were also awaiting reorganisation.

The uncertainty has also revived questions about the competing power centres within the Kerala Congress, particularly the influence of the Satheesan, Venugopal and Chennithala camps.

For now, however, the high command appears unwilling to make a hurried choice. Until a successor is appointed, Sunny Joseph is expected to take a more active role in rebuilding the party's organisational machinery while continuing his responsibilities as Electricity Minister.