New Delhi: Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday took a jibe at the Prime Minister Narendra Modiwho said he seemed to have “lost his memory” after the BJP leadership took nearly 50 days to announce the chief minister in Delhi, has now criticized the Congress party for delaying the selection of Kerala’s next prime minister.He reminded the prime minister that the BJP itself had delayed its decision in Delhi and said the Congress followed democratic procedures and not a “dictatorship” system.
Chennithala told reporters in Delhi, “Prime Minister Modi should remember that it took him 50 days to announce the appointment of Delhi’s chief minister. Only now I realize that the prime minister seems to have lost his memory. The prime minister who has created uncertainty in Delhi without announcing the chief minister’s appointment in 50 days is now criticizing the Congress party.” The Prime Minister should not forget the past. “He further defended the Congress party’s consultative process and said decisions within the party were taken democratically after discussions with leaders and MLAs.“The Indian National Congress is a democratic party, not an authoritarian party. That is why the high command has said it will discuss with all of us and take a democratic decision. In their party, the situation is such that if Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah decide something, then it becomes everything. Our party is not like that,” he said.Giving an update on the status of the Kerala chief ministerial election, Chennithala said the Congress high command has held extensive consultations with party leaders and legislators and the final decision will be announced soon.“The observers came to Kerala and listened to all the MLAs. Discussions were held with Sunny Joseph, VD Satheesan, KC Venugopal, me and others. Now, we are waiting for the high command’s decision.” A decision will be taken soon,” he added.A few days ago, the Congress-led United Front scored a major victory in the Kerala assembly elections, ending the Left Democratic Front’s rule in the state. However, the party is yet to announce the chief minister’s name, with senior leaders VD Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala and KC Venugopal emerging as the main contenders.Congress president Mallikarjun Haq and senior leader Rahul Gandhi have been in Delhi for consultations with Kerala leaders, while the party high command is trying to forge consensus to avoid factional tensions within the state unit.
