PJ Kurien Responds to Young Kerala Congress MLAs Hitting Out Against Him For Seeking Another RS Term

Thiruvananthapuram: Deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha PJ Kurien has responded to the young Kerala Congress MLAs who have taken publically aired their grievances about senior party leader seeking multiple terms in the Upper House.

“I have not asked anybody for an RS seat. Abusing on social media is not fair. They must not think it is advisable to term the elderly as old. If they have any issue they should raise it in party forums, not on social media,” posted Kurien on Facebook.

Earlier, a Facebook post by a young Kerala Congress MLA has sparked a protest within the party.

Shafi Parambil is one of the six young MLAs who are protesting against senior-most members of the party repeatedly being sent to the Rajya Sabha. “I was born in 1983. According to my information, Congress received 20 terms in Rajya Sabha from that time. The representation was shared among only six leaders. I hope my knowledge is correct,” wrote Shafi.

Soon, the thoughts were mirrored by Congress' Thrithala MLA VT Balram. Others like former NSUI president Roji M John, Anil Aikkara, Hibi Eden and KS Sabarinathan joined in.

The protest was targeted at Rajya Sabha deputy chairman PJ Kurien, who was looking for another term in the upper House after his present one ends on June 21. Considering that Congress only has 22 MLAs, six is not a small number.

“I hope PJ Kurien, who is completing three terms in Rajya Sabha, will use this opportunity wisely to withdraw from parliamentary politics,” Balram said in his FB post.

Hibi Eden also warned the party against using the Upper House as an “old age home”. Roji M John said, “People like PJ Kurien should remember the recent statement by Congress president Rahul Gandhi that the party platforms should be opened up to youngsters.”

Kurien, who has a warm relationship with former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, is a six-time member of the Lok Sabha from 1980 to 1999. He first became a member of the Rajya Sabha in 2005.

Though the young leaders mention Kurien by name, the guns also appeared trained at state PCC chief MM Hassan and UDF convener PP Thankachan.

Although Shafil Parambil, in his Facebook post, claims only six leaders have gotten elected to the Rajya Sabha since 1983, the actual number is seven.

— AK Antony (1985, 1991, 2005, 2010 and 2016)

— Vayalar Ravi (1994, 2003, 2009 and 2015)

— PJ Kurian (2005, 2006 and 2012)

— K Karunakaran (1995, 1997 and 2005)

— Thennala Balakrishna Pillai (1991, 1992 and 2003)

— MM Jacob (1988)

— TKC Vaduthala (1986)