The AICC leadership has gone into a huddle after Kerala veteran, K Karunakaran, gave the leadership a public slap by holding a massive rally in Kochi where he showcased 13 Congress MLAs to show that he cannot be scared away by threats from Delhi. The fact the all 13 Congress MLAs chose to attend the rally by defying a party whip, and that 36 of the 62 Congress MLAs refuse to attend the CLP meeting called by Mr Chandy is being seen as the signal of the inroads Mr Karunakaran has made.
After Mr K Karunakaran’s show-of-strength in Kochi despite Ahmmed Patel declaring the rally as unauthorised, the authority and prestige of Mr Chandy stand challenged along with that of the High Command. Though the PCC has issued a show-cause notice to the rebel MLAs and sent an SOS to the High Command today, the fact that nearly 50% of the Congress MLAs boycotted the CLP meeting yesterday, has presented the High Command with a war-like-situation.
As senior leaders are monitoring the situation in Kerala, and a report from the PCC is awaited, the High Command is confronted with a difficult choice — either confront the rebels by risking a split, or opt for a compromise with the daring patriarch by reducing CM Oomman Chandy to a sorry figure. Sensing that his own survival is at stake, Mr Chandy sent senior legislator KV Thomas to the AICC president, seeking strong disciplinary action against the rebels. Mr Thomas has reportedly told Ms Sonia Gandhi that after the Kochi rally, the only way that the PCC and the CM could survive the rebel assault was if the High Command took disciplinary action against them.
Adding to his strength was AK Antony — he turned against Mr Chandy’s fight-the-rebels-to-the finish line. While Mr Karunakaran is trying to demolish Mr Chandy’s authority, Mr Antony has chosen to settle scores with him for his ‘betrayal’.
