Antony asks Congress leaders to end infighting

Former Kerala Chief Minister A.K. Antony on Sunday asked Congress leaders to end their infighting, saying it was eating into their support base.

"What many fail to realise is that the support base of not just the party but its leaders is slipping because of this infighting," Antony told the media.

"The need of the hour is for the leaders to come out of the comfort zone of their coteries. They should not fear criticism," he said.

The statement comes at a time when former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who has not entered the Congress headquarters for over a month, has been called to Delhi to meet party Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday.

Ever since its rout in assembly polls last year, the Congress has been divided, with Chandy, state party President V.M. Sudheeran and opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala heading their own factions.

In December, Chandy's aides were left out when 14 district committees of the party were reconstituted by the party high command.

Chandy expressed his anguish by not taking part in two crucial party meetings in Delhi, including the Political Affairs Committee meeting on Saturday.

--IANS

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