With the Lok Sabha elections just days away, fault lines within the Kerala Congress appear to be deepening as one of its vice-presidents has announced his decision to leave the party.
V.C. Chandy, a prominent figure in the regional party from the Malabar region for over four decades, declared his resignation on Sunday. Echoing the reasons cited by those who resigned from the party previously, he too cited differences over the candidature of Francis K. George in Kottayam and the alleged domination of Mons Joseph, MLA, in the party as the primary reasons for his decision.
“In the face of significant challenges confronting settler farmers, the party has remained silent and ineffective on crucial issues such as the buffer zone, wildlife attacks, and title deeds,” Mr. Chandy said. He accused party chairman P.J. Joseph of passivity in countering the attempts by his son Apu John Joseph and party executive chairman Mons Joseph, MLA, to assert dominance within the party.
