Pathanamthitta (Kerala) | Congress MLA-elect Abin Varkey on Saturday said that the party has always upheld freedom of expression, and he is not against workers installing flex boards in support of leaders being considered for the post of Kerala chief minister.
He was referring to protests and flex boards installed across Kerala in support of Congress leaders VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, who are being considered for the CM post.
Speaking to reporters, Varkey said it was natural for Congress party workers to support leaders they admire by raising slogans and putting up flex boards.
"In the Congress party, there is freedom to take the names of leaders in support, raise slogans for them and install flex boards. It was the same in the past, it is the same in the present, and it will remain so in the future. That is the beauty of the Congress," he said.
He said such freedom attracted people like him to the party despite the criticism.
"I am not against installing flex boards of leaders, but against tearing them down. There is no need to destroy flex boards of leaders. Similarly, attacks against each other on social media are unnecessary," he said.
The Congress leader, who is also the state vice-president of the Youth Congress, said the party had never contested elections by projecting a chief ministerial face.
"The chief minister is selected based on the situation. AICC observers arrive in the state and hold meetings with MLAs and leaders before submitting their report to the party high command," he said.
He said the regular procedure was followed in Kerala after the Assembly elections, with observers meeting MLAs and leaders to gather opinions before filing their report.
As senior party leaders from the state have now been invited to New Delhi for further discussions, the chief minister will be decided within two days, and the swearing-in ceremony will be held soon, he added.
"Such celebrations are regular while selecting the chief minister. We are not over-conscious about it as it is part of a democratic process," he said.
When asked about his preference for the chief minister's post, Varkey said the person chosen by Rahul Gandhi would be acceptable to him.
Varkey defeated former Health Minister Veena George of the LDF and senior BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan in his maiden electoral contest in Aranmula Assembly constituency.
The Congress won 63 seats of its own in the 140-member assembly, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance has won 102 seats, staging a comeback in the southern state.
