Kerala Congress has lost its relevance now; P C George

Kerala Congress, which has seen several splits and emergence of new groups in its over 50-year-long history, has 'lost its relevance' now as it has become a camp of self-seekers who always want to taste power under the cool comfort of alliance politics in Kerala, a senior Kerala Congress leader said here today.
Kerala Congress (Secular) leader P C George also urged the Syrian Catholic Church--whose followers constitute the key support base for various Kerala Congress groups--not to encourage and promote various KC groups in the state.
He also made a similar plea to mainstream political parties like Congress and CPI(M), which have made them their alliance partners in the state's power politics.

"I am a Kerala Congress leader. But I have no hesitation in saying sincerely that Kerala Congress has lost its relevance. It stands only for those who are capable of doing business and money making exercise under the cool comfort of power.
"A man of good social standing cannot work in Kerala Congress," George said at a meet-the-press programme organised by Ernakulam Press Club here.
George, who revived his Kerala Congress (Secular) after ending his association with Kerala Congress (M) headed by K M Mani last year, said leaders of Kerala Congress survive in the state politics by "exploiting tears and poverty of farmers and faith of Christians".

"Now it has become a camp of fortune seekers who eye ministerial berths," he said about Kerala Congress groups.

Farmers and the Catholic Church, who have backed Kerala Congress since its birth in 1965, got nothing from them, he said and urged them to have a rethink on their stand on Kerala Congress parties.
George, who is seeking to contest the coming assembly elections from his stronghold Poonjar constituency, said he would take a decision on his Kerala Congress after the polls.
His statement came a week after another Kerala Congress outfit 'Janadhipathya Kerala Congress' was formed by a group of leaders headed by Francis George after severing ties with Kerala Congress (M), led by K M Mani.

At present major Kerala Congress factions in state politics include Kerala Congress (M), Kerala Congress (Balakrishna Pillai) under R Balakrishna Pillai, Kerala Congress (Secular) headed by George, Janadhipathya Kerala Congress and Kerala Congress (Jacob) under Anoop Jacob.