KPCC revamping likely this month

New Delhi, Jan 13 (UNI) The revamping of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) is likely to take place this month even as former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy held discussions with Party President Sonia Gandhi on "organisational matters" of the party unit in the state.

The demand for the reconstitution of the KPCC has been raised in the light of the party's debacle in the assembly elections held in May last year. A section of the Congress leaders also joined the ranks of former Chief Minister K Karunakaran, who floated his own party and later merged it with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), leaving several vacancies in the party's organisational apparatus.

However, the revamping could not take place due to differences of opinion among a section of the leaders.

Mr Chandy, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, told mediapersons here after the meeting with Ms Gandhi that the efforts to reconstitute the KPCC has reached the "final stages." He had held talks with Defence Minister A K Antony and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.

Mr Chandy, who arrived here to participate in the swearing-in of Mr K G Balakrishnan as the Chief Justice of India tomorrow, said he would also meet Ms Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel.

Meanwhile, AICC sources said that CWC member Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of Party affairs in Kerala, would be in the state for two days from January 18 to sort out the differences among the leaders on reconstitution of the PCC.

Mr Chandy also confirmed the proposed visit of Mr Moily, and hoped that the reconstitution of the KPCC would be possible after his visit.

Replying to a question, Mr Chandy said it would not be possible for reconstitution of the KPCC through organisational elections.

"Organisational elections are possible only along with other states.

This is not due at the moment." Referring to the vexed Mullaperiyar dam issue with Tamil Nadu, Mr Chandy said his party was of the view that good relationship should be maintained with the neighbouring state.

At the same time, it was important to address the safety of nearly three million people in Kerala who would be affected in the event of a breach of the 112-year old dam.

In this context, he asserted that the Opposition woud extend unconditional support to the Marxist-led government on the Mullaperiyar dam issue.

"We don't want to make the Mullaperiyar a political issue," he told a reporter.

Mr Chandy alleged breakdown of law and order in the state, citing the violent incidents in Pathanamthitta and Payyavur.

UNI