With disenchantment brewing in the Congress party’s Kozhikode unit over the humiliating defeat of its candidates in the just concluded Assembly polls, a section of the party leaders has sought the removal of the District Congress Committee (DCC) president K.C. Abu.
The party had lost all the five seats it had contested in alliance with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Janata Dal (United) in the district. The party has been facing this ignominy for the past one decade. Kozhikode North, Koyilandy, Nadapuram and Beypore were the usual seats it contested. However, this time, it also contested the Kunnamangalam seat by swapping the Balussery constituency with the IUML.
The party sources said KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala had been apprised of the state of affairs in the district. Many have argued that the party could recover the lost ground only by replacing the DCC chief.
His statement inciting communal passion at an election rally in Beypore had disturbed a section of the Hindu community who traditionally votes for the Congress. A senior party functionary said that an overhauling of the DCC would revive the fortunes of the party in the district. The inept handling of the Assembly polls by the DCC chief had led to the poor show of the party. Only his sacking could refurbish the party image and instil confidence at the grass-roots level, he said.
Already, many have set their eyes on the DCC president’s post. Previously, it was held by the ‘I’ group of the Congress. But after former KPCC president K. Muraleedharan formed the DIC (K) it changed hands to the ‘A’ group.
Sources close to Mr. Sudheeran say that the post should be handled by a mature person irrespective of group politics.
