Thiruvananthapuram | Signs of differences within the Congress in Kerala became more visible on Thursday after party leaders took opposing positions over Chief Minister V D Satheesan's remarks on the KSU's protest against the appointment of a former SFI activist as a government pleader.
The controversy began after Satheesan told reporters on Wednesday that government pleaders were appointed based on merit and recommendations and that the government would not act under pressure from political or student organisations.
He also said the KSU unit committee of the Thiruvananthapuram Law College did not decide who should be appointed as a government pleader.
The Kerala Students Union (KSU), the student wing of the Congress, has been protesting the appointment of a former leader of the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M), as a government pleader.
The issue escalated on Thursday after KSU state president Aloshious Xavier was allegedly denied an appointment with the chief minister to convey the organisation's protest over the remarks, which KSU leaders said undermined the student organisation and its workers.
A CMO spokesperson did not respond to queries regarding the allegation that an appointment had been denied.
The developments triggered sharp reactions from Congress leaders on social media.
Without naming Satheesan, Congress state spokesperson Jinto John posted a strongly worded message, saying those who built the organisation were now being ignored.
"The paths we came through and the people who held our hands are treated as nothing more than stepping stones," he wrote.
Referring to what he described as the marginalisation of grassroots workers, Jinto said, "There must always be questions. There must always be children to ask them."
He also criticised political appointments, saying, "Political appointments should not be made merely because someone's family supports the Congress."
In a separate Facebook post, Congress leader V R Anoop questioned why the chief minister had not granted appointments to party functionaries seeking to raise their concerns.
"It is also understood that Aloshious Xavier, who raised a complaint with the Chief Minister regarding the appointment of government pleaders, has not yet been given an appointment," Anoop wrote.
Referring to the appointments granted to functionaries of RSS-linked organisations, he said, "The Chief Minister should have shown the same sympathetic approach to the KPCC general secretary P M Niyas and the KSU state president that he showed to Hindu Aikya Vedi leaders Sasikala and R V Babu."
However, another Congress state spokesperson, Raju P Nair, came out in support of the chief minister and criticised those raising the issue publicly.
"Those holding responsible positions should behave responsibly. They should not react merely on the basis of news reports appearing in the media," he wrote.
"If there is any complaint regarding a decision of the government, it should first be raised with the Chief Minister, the concerned minister or the KPCC president," he said.
Apparently referring to Xavier's statement to the media on Wednesday, Nair asked: "After speaking to the media first, what is the purpose of meeting those in positions of responsibility other than creating another news story?"
He also cautioned party leaders against helping political opponents.
"One should understand that, knowingly or unknowingly, your agenda and the CPI(M)'s agenda are converging," Nair said.
