This is the unmistakable conclusion that emerges from a perusal of the party’s list of candidates for the April 13 assembly elections. Ironically, it is Ramesh himself who is being blamed the most for the sudden spurt in groupism in the state Congress.

The recrudescence of factionalism which marred the seat division talks has come as a shock even to the Congress leaders. So much so, a number of Congress leaders, including Union Minister Vayalar Ravi, and some MPs and MLAs have complained to the party high command about the neat ‘division’ of seats between the two dominant groups in the state unit, the Vishala I group and A group headed by KPCC chief Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy respectively.

A close study of the list corroborates the Congress leaders’ charge. As many as 40 candidates who have managed to get tickets belong to the A group led by Chandy and 30 to the faction headed by Ramesh. Four candidates are Vayalar Ravi loyalists, while the rest belong to Youth Congress And other factions.

Only seven women have made it to the Congress list this time although the party high command had decided that 33 per cent of the seats should be reserved for women.

Congress sources also say that the Chennithala faction has a clear edge if the winnability factor is taken into account although Oommen Chandy has succeeded in getting more of his candidates included in the list.

The Karunakaran loyalists have drawn a virtual blank, incurring the wrath of the late Congress veteran’s daughter Padmaja Venugopal. A peeved Padmaja went to the extent of holding a meeting of her father’s loyalists to express their sense of indignation at the raw deal meted out to them. They also wrote to the party high command listing their grievances. Although Padmaja has grudgingly agreed to campaign for the Congress, there are clear signs that she would up the ante if justice is not done to the Karunakaran loyalists, post-election.

What should be a matter of grave concern to the Congress is the sullen mood of the Malankara Orthodix Church group over the party’s failure to accommodate its candidates. A worried Chennithala has had a meeting with the church leaders, but they are in no mood to be mollified, it is learnt. The alienation of the Malankara group can prove costly for the Congress in central districts of the state where it has considerable influence.

The Muslims are also upset at the Congress’s refusal to give proper representation to candidates belonging to the community. In fact, a meeting of various Muslim groups held in Kochi recently, made it clear that the unhelpful attitude of the Congress to the Muslims would get refected in the voting pattern.

As a damage-limitation step, the Congress has handed over the temporary charge of the KPCC to Thalekkunnil Bashir, a Muslim and a senior Congress leader from Kerala. But it is doubtful the move will have the desired effect assuaging Muslim anger.
Last but not the least, the Youth Congress is also angry with the KPCC president over his attempts to pack the list prepared by Rahul Gandhi with his own supporters at the cost of Youth Congress candidates.

The presence of a number of rebel candidates is also adding to the tension of the State Congress leadership. A prominent rebel is Shobana George, who is contesting against the official Congress candidate from Chenganur constituency, Mr. P C Vishnunath, who is also the Kerala Youth Congress president. (IPA)