Mukul Wasnik calls for more unity in party

AICC General Secretary in-Charge of Kerala Mukul Wasnik has asked party workers in the state to sink their differences and work unitedly to improve the party's prospects in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Wasnik, who attended some party functions and also the KPCC-Government Coordination Committee during his two-day visit to the state, also warned the cadres that the high command would not tolerate indiscipline.

He asked Congress workers to highlight the 'achievements' of the UPA government to the people.

Wasnik had meetings with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and KPCC Chief Ramesh Chennithala as part of his efforts to bring about more cohesion between the two leaders.

Chandy had proposed to induct Chennithala into his ministry as part of an effort to improve the image of the UDF government, under attack from CPI-M led LDF opposition over the solar panel scam that has brought the Chief Minister's office under a cloud.

But Chennithala was not keen on it as he apparently felt it would harm his long term prospects following which the high command rejected the proposal on Aug 2.

Congress led UDF had won 16 of 20 Lok Sabha seats last time. Congress had won 13 seats, IUML two and Kerala Congress (M) one.

The co-ordination committee meeting late last evening decided to work towards unity that would brighten the party's prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The general consensus was that coordination between the coalition, party and government was missing and that unity was necessary, sources said.

The attitude of P C George, government Chief Whip and nominee of KC-M came in for sharp criticism at the meeting and Congress leaders wanted KC-M leadership to rein him in.