Congress fight set to intensify after Poll

KOCHI: The factionalism within the Congress is likely to intensify after the Neyyatinkara byelection with the mandalam and block reorganisation scheduled for the next month.The factions, especially A and broad I groups, have started holding core committees in districts ahead of the reorganisation.The A group and the different factions in the broad I group such as the faction led by UDF convener P P Thankachan, third group of Chennithala and fourth group of Vayalar Ravi have held meetings, aimed at the forthcoming mandalam and block reorganisation. “The factionalism in the party had come to light during the recent Cabinet reshuffle when it was alleged that KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala was kept in the dark. The broad I group had come out against the A group’s autocratic ways,” a senior leader said.The broad I group had also resisted a move to accommodate Chennithala in the ministry, which was seen as a move by the A group to sideline him. A KPCC general secretary said that factionalism has already intensified within the party. “The leaders hold open campaign for mandalam and block committees. Now, it is just a lull before the storm. The truce between the A group and the broad I group, caused by the high command’s directive to bury the hatchet during the Neyyatinkara byelection, will be over once the election campaign ends, he said.  In most of the mandalam and block committees, the leaders have almost decided their representatives, which is going to be another headache when the reorganisation takes place,  sources said.Factionalism has come to the fore in the KSU and the Youth Congress too. In KSU, factionalism is rampant even at the unit level.As the Youth Congress elections are due in the year end, leaders have already started campaigning and holding meetings, a Youth Congress leader said and added that it is the second-rung leadership in the Congress which is igniting factionalism.