Thiruvananthapuram, September 7 (Udaipur Kiran) : The Kerala Congress has opted not to take disciplinary action against MLA Ramya Haridas amid ongoing factional disputes within the party. Instead, the leadership has chosen a conciliatory approach, aiming to distance Haridas from her controversial ally, Palayam Pradeep, in an effort to quell tensions and prevent further conflict.
The party’s state unit is expected to issue clear instructions to Haridas, urging her to cease using Pradeep as a political associate and to keep him away from her constituency’s political activities. This decision follows numerous complaints from local Congress leaders, who allege that Pradeep’s constant presence has led to excessive interference in party matters, contributing to discord within the regional unit.
The resolution came after discussions between Haridas and K.C. Venugopal, the Congress General Secretary (Organization), who advised her to work in coordination with local Congress leadership and avoid factionalism. Party leaders are keen to resolve the issue without escalating it, particularly after a recent incident involving physical altercations between Haridas’s associates and local Congress leaders.
Based on an initial report from the party’s inquiry committee, both Pradeep and S. Sajjad, vice president of the Kuthallur mandalam, were suspended from the party’s primary membership. The committee examined complaints from both sides, which indicated that Pradeep’s involvement in constituency-level affairs was causing significant unrest.
District Panchayat member Sajjad Mutappalam and other local leaders claimed that Pradeep’s presence at party meetings and public events exceeded that of a mere associate, leading to dissatisfaction among party ranks. Conversely, Haridas and Pradeep alleged that they were physically assaulted by Mutappalam during a meeting at his home.
The inquiry committee recorded statements from six DCC officials and two block Congress presidents from Chirayinkeezhu before submitting its preliminary report. Given the damage to the party’s image, leadership decided to take action against representatives from both factions.
State Congress President Sani Joseph and senior leader K. Muraleedharan expressed their public displeasure over these incidents, branding them as embarrassing for the party. With the leadership now focused on resolving this dispute, no further action against Haridas or the opposing faction is anticipated for the time being.
The strategy appears clear: reprimand the MLA, eliminate the surrounding controversy, unite opposing factions, and close a chapter that has already caused significant embarrassment for the Congress party.
My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.