Chennithala likely to continue as KPCC chief

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The general body of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) will meet on September 17 to elect its new president. This was announced by Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy at the KPCC executive committee meeting held in Kochi on Wednesday.

 “As per the election schedule of the All-India Congress Committee, new Pradesh Congress Committee presidents have to be sworn in by September 17. Hence, the KPCC will convene its general body to elect the new president,’’ the present incumbent Ramesh Chennithala told 'Express.’

 However, this will be the first time that the State unit of the party will be electing its president without even completing the elections of the KPCC office-bearers and even the District Congress Committees. The elections to these posts were postponed owing to the ensuing local body polls. But the AICC has made it clear that the election process could not be changed just for the Kerala unit of the party .

 But this general body will be a mere formality as the meeting would be entrusting the responsibility of finding a new president to the party high command as usual. “It has been a routine practice and the party high command will take a final decision on the new KPCC president,’’ said Ramesh Chennithala. According to party sources, a consensus has been reached to allow Ramesh Chennithala to continue in office for another term. Hence, the general body is likely to propose the name of Ramesh Chennithala on September 17 to the party high command. However, Chennithala turned down any such speculations.

 “The party has not even discussed the names of the probables for the next president’s post. No consensus formula has been evolved. The high command will decide who should become the next president,’’ he told 'Express.’