Fresh rift brewing in Kerala NCP

Revamping of the State and district units by P.C. Chacko and his elevation as NCP’s State president has infuriated the old timers in the party

The entry of former Congress leader P.C. Chacko into the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on the eve of the Kerala Assembly polls and his subsequent elevation as its State president appears to have led to a rift between his supporters and old timers in the party. Sources said that Mr. Chacko, who replaced senior leader T.P. Peethambaran, had taken the reins of the party in Kerala by revamping both the State unit and districts. Besides, a faction — owing allegiance to Minister for Forests A.K. Saseendran — is also feeling infuriated by the replacement of office-bearers and even the appointment of the personal staff for the Minister. Already several district units have been revamped. Only Kozhikode and Alappuzha have been left untouched as they have a legislator each. Besides, K.R. Rajan, who was recently appointed as the State general secretary (organisational), issued a circular saying that all government-related recommendations would be channelised and vetted by the State committee, sources said.