That exactly is the meaning and significance of the unanimous resolution passed by the first general body meeting of the new KPCC members despite reservations from the dominant A and I groups led respectively by former chief minister Oommen Chandy and leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala. The resolution empowers the High Command to name a leader of its liking to the KPCC chief’s post.

It is now evident that the new KPCC president will be a leader who belongs neither to the A group nor the I group. The reason: both the groups have earned the wrath of the High Command by openly defying its directives on choosing the KPCC members.

The High Command’s strong displeasure over the show of defiance and threats issued by the dominant groups explains the firm opposition from AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi over the ‘sharing’ of the KPCC members’ posts by the A and I groups.

Significantly, Mr Gandhi had successfully managed to have the list prepared by the group leaders changed twice to include several leaders who do not belong to any group. The most prominent grouse of the Congress leaders was that the list totally ignored women, backward community leaders and youth.

With Rahul’s intervention, women leaders in the Congress have succeeded, to some extent, in getting fair representation in the new list which now includes as many as 28 women members. It may be mentioned that senior women leaders in Congress had threatened to block the list unless they get at least 10 per cent of the new posts. They are happy that Rahul Gandhi has addressed their concerns. The list also boasts 20 backward community members, 45 people below the age of 45.

This has rattled the group managers like Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala. That is why they insisted that the new KPCC president should be chosen through an election. But the High Command has frustrated their designs by getting a resolution passed urging it to choose the new KPCC president.

A closer look at the composition of the list shows that, for the first time, the Congress High Command has succeeded in having a greater say in the composition of the list, instead of succumbing to the pressure tactics of the group managers as in the past. True, the dominant groups have cornered a big slice of the cake. But it is also true that they have failed to have an unfettered say in the selection of the new KPC members.

Not surprisingly, Chandy and Chennithala feel that the new KPCC chief will be a person who won’t dance to their tune. In this matter, the High Command will be greatly influenced by the opinion of senior Congress leader A K Antony. And reports have it that Antony is unhappy about the way Chandy and Chennithala defied the directives of the High Command. That being the ground reality, the new KPCC president will, in all probability, be a person who enjoys the confidence of both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Of course, this is not the first time that state Congress leaders defied Rahul Gandhi. When the latter decided on a few names for the 2011 state assembly elections, he encountered stiff opposition from Chandy and Chennithala. Again, the group leaders opposed the naming of V M Sudheeran as the KPCC president. Last but not the least, Chandy loyalists failed to get majority of the DCC presidents who were chosen by Rahul Gandhi.

In hindsight, one thing can be said with certainty. The developments over the preparation of the new KPCC members’ list shows the High Command’s determination to weaken the vice-like grip of the group leaders on the Congress in the state. Rahul may not have succeeded entirely in his efforts. But a firm step towards ending the domination of Chandy and Chennithala has been taken. This could well be the beginning of the end of groupism in the Congress. (IPA Service)