The decision followed a tough message delivered by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi at a special meeting he addressed in the Capital recently. The meeting had been convened to discuss the reasons for the stunning electoral defeat the Congress-led UDF suffered in the assembly elections and suggest correctives.

Mr. Gandhi’s tough stance frustrated a concerted effort of the dominant A and I groups to have Sudheeran replaced and install a pliable person of their choice in the KPCC president’s post. The groups had made out a strong case for Sudheeran’s removal by accusing him of being responsible for the party’s poll debacle.

But Rahul Gandhi ruled out the removal of Sudheeran. The reason for the poll loss cannot be blamed on any single leader, Rahul said, adding that it was a collective failure. The severe thumbs down the group leaders received means that any attempt to put a premium on groupism will be firmly dealt with.

Needless to say, it was a victory of sorts and a reprieve for the beleaguered Sudheeran who had been singled out by both the dominant groups in the party for criticism.

The High Command has, however, admitted the need for reconstitution of the party organization. But that would be done solely on the criterion of merit and merit alone. The past practice of sharing the spoils of office between the Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala groups would not be allowed, Rahul made it clear to the meeting.

Consequently, the decision represents a major setback for both Chandy and Chennithala for whom Sudheeran had become a bête noire who has been resisting their game plan to perpetuate their stranglehold on the party organization.

It is obvious that Rahul’s decision has been influenced by the pro-Sudheeran stance taken by senior party leader from Kerala, A K. Antony whom he had consulted prior to the special meeting. Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P. J. Kurien is also learnt to have favoured retention of Sudheeran as the KPCC chief and opposed a spurt in factionalism in the party.

The A group led by Oomen Chandy had upped the ante against Sudheeran in the wake of the electoral defeat. The idea was to capture the KPCC president’s post. The group wanted the party post with Ramesh Chennithala who heads the rival I group becoming the leader of the opposition in the assembly and UDF chairman. With the High Command strongly frowning upon the attempt, the A group’s stratagem to put pressure on Chennithala and regain its pre-eminent position in the party, has come a cropper, at least for the time being.

The toughening of the High Command’s stance has come a bit too late in the day, it would seem. Had the High Command put its foot down on rampant factionalism before the assembly elections, perhaps the Congress could have given a better account of itself in the electoral battle. But as the saying goes, better late than never. Time alone will tell whether the bitter medicine administered by the high command will cure the malady of groupism which has been the bane of the Congress in the State. (IPA Service)