Chennithala denies Congress-KSU rift over ex-SFI leader’s government pleader appointment

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala dismissed reports of a rift between Chief Minister V D Satheesan and KSU over the appointment of a former SFI leader as government pleader, saying the Congress would resolve any concerns through discussions while KSU sought to downplay the controversy

Kannur (Kerala): Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday dismissed reports of differences between Chief Minister V D Satheesan and the KSU, over the appointment of a government pleader who was formerly associated with the SFI, saying any grievances within the party would be resolved through discussions.

The controversy erupted after Satheesan said on Wednesday that government pleaders were appointed on the basis of merit and recommendations and that the government would not function under pressure from political or student organisations.

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The Congress’s student wing KSU has objected to the appointment of a former Students’ Federation of India (SFI) leader as a government pleader.

SFI is the students’ wing of the CPI(M). KSU state president Aloshious Xavier on Friday said that if the UDF government considered his opposition to the appointment of a former SFI activist as a government pleader a “mistake”, he would repeat it.

Responding to questions from reporters, Chennithala said there was no such dispute within the Congress. “When you compare it to the disputes between the CPI(M) and the CPI, what dispute is there within the Congress? If there are any issues, we will sit together and resolve them,” he said.

Claiming that the maximum number of disputes existed within the opposition LDF, Chennithala said its constituents were unable to resolve their own issues.

“They are in a state where they cannot even resolve the problems within the LDF. They can’t even hold a front meeting. No such issues exist in Congress. If KSU workers have any grievances, those grievances will certainly be examined and resolved. I believe the chief minister himself will take the initiative,” he said.

Rejecting that the CM was unwilling to meet the aggrieved Kerala Students Union (KSU) leaders, Chennithala said hundreds of people meet Satheesan and other ministers every day.

“If the KSU leaders have an opinion, there is nothing wrong in expressing it. They have expressed their opinions in the past as well. But there are certain procedures. If they meet the chief minister and place their concerns before him, he will certainly consider them. He will not disregard them. Not just him, all of us will consider them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Xavier on Saturday sought to downplay the controversy, saying the issue should not be portrayed as a major confrontation between the student organisation and the government.

He said the matter related to a specific appointment and that the KSU had conveyed its concerns to both the government and the Congress leadership.

“We informed the government of our concerns and also informed the party. The party has assured us that it will intervene in the matter. As a disciplined party worker, it is my responsibility not to say a single word more or less than that,” Xavier said.

He said the issue remained under discussion and expressed confidence that the KSU would soon get an opportunity to place its views before the government.

“We are absolutely certain that it will never reach a stage where the KSU is ignored. We are waiting to meet our chief minister,” he said. Asked whether time had been sought to meet Satheesan, Xavier said the KSU was in constant touch with the Chief Minister’s office.

Rejecting suggestions that AICC general secretary K C Venugopal was using the KSU to raise the issue, Xavier said the student organisation had always functioned independently. “KSU is an organisation that has the freedom to take independent positions and express its opinions. That has been its character from its inception,” he said. PTI