Sudheeran, Karthikeyan among probables for Kerala PCC chief

Names of senior leaders V M Sudheeran and G Karthikeyan and youth leader V D Satheesan are doing the rounds for the post of Kerala PCC Chief in the wake of incumbent Ramesh Chennithala becoming state Home Minister.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who met AICC General Secretary in-charge Mukul Wasnik here today, said that the high command would soon take a decision on new PCC chief.
Meanwhile, Chennithala would meet Wasnik tomorrow to convey his view on the new PCC chief.
The two senior Kerala leaders' separate meetings with the party's top leadership have sparked speculation that both of them are not on same page on the issue.

Chandy refused to react when asked whether both of them are not in agreement over a common name for the post.
The delay in announcement of the new PCC Chief, almost a month after Chennithala assumed charge of the Home Ministry has created confusion in the state Congress.

Only recently Wasnik had said that the new PCC chief would be announced very soon.
Initial reports from the state had suggested that both Chandy and Chennithala were on agreement on appointing Karthikeyan as the PCC chief. He is currently the Speaker of the State Assembly.
However, a section in the state Congress are strongly lobbying for Sudheeran, known for his pro-people stance on various issues.

Congress legislature party chief whip T N Prathapan had sent a letter to the party's central leadership, requesting to appoint Sudheeran as the new PCC president.
In a letter to party Chief Sonia Gandhi, Prathapan had said, "Only a leader of Sudheeran's stature would be able to steer the party during turbulent times while his experience would help curb the factionalist tendencies in the party."
A close confidant of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Satheesan, known for his stand on environment and corruption, is also having high regards in the state politics.
Meanwhile, the AICC has expanded the party's Kerala State Election Committee ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Satheesan, Union Minister Kodikunnil Suresh, State Minister K C Joseph and senior Congress leader Thampanoor Ravi have been added as members of the election committee.