The first to fire the salvo was senior Congress leader V M Sudheeran who made no secret of his displeasure over the selection of ministers. Mr Sudheeeran said ministers have been appointed on considerations other than merit. There is no justification whatsover for the non-inclusion of V D Satheesan, who was adjudged the best MLA in the 12th Assembly, in the Oommen Chandy Ministry, he opined. He also demanded a detailed discussion on the matter in the KPCC meeting.

Mr N. Sakthan, who belongs to the powerful Nadar community, took the cue from Mr Sudheeran and criticised the non-inclusion of a Nadar in the ministry. Mr Sakthan said but for the help extended by the Nadars, many MLAs would not have won from Thiruvananthapuram district, which is their stronghold.

Next to train his gun against the KPCC leadership was MLA TN Prathapan, who belongs to the fishermen’s community. Mr Prathapan, who was tipped to become a minister, squarely blamed KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala for the party’s unsatisfactory performance in the assembly elections. The KPCC chief should explain why brilliant MLAs like Satheesan were not made ministers.

Mr K. Muraleedharan, son of late Mr K. Karunakaran, also joined the chorus of criticism against the party leadership in Kerala. He said better selection of candidates would have resulted in the Congress putting up a better show in the assembly elections. He also said that merit was not the criterion for choosing ministers, adding that those who do not belong to any group have not found a place in the Chandy ministry.

The latest to express his displeasure over the state of affairs in the Kerala Congress is senior party leader and minister of state for Home in the Manmohan ministry, Mr Mullappally Ramachandran. Mr Ramachandran said the selection of Congress candidates left much to be desired. If greater care had been taken in the matter, the Congress would have done much better in the assembly elections.

Rattled by the growing criticism against him, KPCC chief Ramesh Chennithala has sounded a note of warning to party leaders who criticise the party leadership openly. He said leaders should not rush to the press with statements critical of the party and that disciplinary action would be taken against those who continue to do so.

In a retaliatory move, MLA KP Anilkumar, a known Ramesh loyalist, lashed out at Mr Prathapan for singling out Ramesh for the party’s unflattering performance in the elections. He said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy should also be held equally responsible for the Congress plight in Kerala.

In view of the gathering storm in the party, the meeting of the KPCC, scheduled to be held ion June 8 is likely to be stormy. There are indications that Mr Chennithala would be subjected to severe criticism for his acts of omission and commission. The meeting may witness the demand for Ramesh’s resignation as well, it is being pointed out. Of course, Ramesh loyalists are also said to be rallying round their ‘leader’ to defend him in his hour of difficulty. (IPA)