Latest news with #KPCC
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kannur DCC general secretary resigns after audio leak
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph on Tuesday accepted the resignation of District Congress Committee general secretary and former Farmers' Congress State president K.C. Vijayan following the surfacing of an audio clip alleging financial fraud and misuse of identity documents by a Youth Congress leader. In a release, Mr. Joseph confirmed that Mr. Vijayan's resignation had been accepted. Mr. Vijayan's audio message, reportedly posted in a WhatsApp group of the Sreekandapuram Block Congress leaders and later circulated in the media, has triggered a fresh row for both the Congress and the Youth Congress. In the recording, Mr. Vijayan is purportedly heard accusing Youth Congress leaders of collecting funds in the name of constructing houses for Wayanad landslide victims and misappropriating the money. However, soon after the clip went public, Youth Congress State secretary Robert Vellamvelly came out with a rebuttal, laced with sarcasm. He mocked Mr. Vijayan for having 'Perumthachan complex' and 'great intelligence to inform people that he is alive.'
New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kharge voices displeasure over being denied Karnataka CM post in 1999 despite efforts
VIJAYAPURA: Veteran Congress leader and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also a prominent Dalit leader, has expressed displeasure that despite working hard to bring the Congress to power in 1999 in Karnataka, he was denied the post of chief minister. 'Instead of me, SM Krishna, who had become KPCC president a few months earlier, was made chief minister. All my efforts were washed away,' he said. Kharge shared his unhappiness while participating in a programme to recall the contribution of late PG Halakatti and BP Patil, at BLDE College on Sunday. Narrating how he struggled for the party and started his career as Block Congress president and then became Leader of the Opposition, Kharge said he, however, could not become chief minister. He said he continued to work for the party with sincerity and commitment, which helped him rise in the party ranks, and he is now AICC president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. He advised party workers to serve the party with dedication, and not run behind power. Meanwhile, sharing his opinion on Kharge expressing displeasure on not being made CM, a prominent party leader who did not wish to be identified, told TNIE the reason could be because Kharge was actively working for the party while Krishna was relatively low-key. 'Before 1999, Krishna did not participate as actively in party work as Kharge, who worked vigorously for the party's development,' he said. When Kharge was Leader of the Opposition, Krishna was made KPCC chief a few months before assembly elections in 1999. After the Congress won a majority, Krishna was made CM. 'May be the party thought Congress gained a majority during Krishna's leadership. However, Kharge's work cannot be denied or undermined,' he said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
KPCC orders disciplinary committee inquiry into controversial leak of former DCC president Palode Ravi's private conversation
The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has instituted an internal enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the 'disconcerting' leak of a private telephone conversation, which resulted in the exit of former Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee (DCC) president Palode Ravi, a party veteran, on the charge of broadcasting a bleak view of the Congress' prospects in the upcoming local body elections and the 2026 Assembly polls. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, KPCC disciplinary committee chairperson, will head the inquiry. A Congress insider said the KPCC was concerned about whether the episode signalled the resurgence of factional feuding with an eye on organisational posts ahead of the party's reorganisation exercise before the local body polls. One-off incident Mr. Radhakrishnan told The Hindu that organisational infighting was at 'an all-time low' in the party. He said that prima facie, the episode, which arguably put the party leadership on the defensive and provided sensational grist to the ruling front to disparage the Opposition, seemed 'a one-off incident and not an entrenched effort.' 'Yet the investigation will cover all aspects. It will focus on strengthening the party and restoring the morale of the rank and file ahead of the crucial polls. It will not be a fault-apportioning exercise targeted at any particular party worker. I have sought explanations from the parties concerned and will be at the KPCC headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram on August 31,' he said. Earlier, the KPCC had expelled Congress block general secretary A. Jaleel in connection with the episode. The KPCC leadership was reportedly of the view that Mr. Ravi had candidly admitted to a few home truths about the party's election preparedness at the grassroots level, including the perceived lack of boots on the ground and the dearth of ward-level election committees. Mr. Ravi had also flagged a perceived erosion of the party's traditional Muslim base, which he stated was benefiting the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]. He also signalled that the BJP's ascendancy would come at a steep cost for the Congress, including the loss of workers to poaching by other parties. Former Speaker N. Sakthan, who replaced Mr. Ravi as the DCC president and assumed charge on Monday (July 28, 2025), said the senior leader possibly lost his guard because he was speaking to a party office-bearer. Mr. Ravi apologised to the party for his inadvertent lack of circumspection. He said he merely flagged the political perils that lie ahead as was routine in party committees.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Palode Ravi quits as Tvm DCC chief
T'puram: Thiruvananthapuram district Congress committee president Palode Ravi has resigned from the post following a leaked phone conversation in which he had criticised his own party. KPCC sought Ravi's resignation after his conversation become a controversy. Apart from this, Vamanapuram block general secretary A Jaleel has been suspended from the party. It was with Jaleel that Ravi had made this conversion. In the 'leaked' telephonic conversation, Ravi claims that the Congress will have a pathetic performance in the local body election and the CPM is all set to retain power for a third time in the state. The KPCC leadership had taken this very seriously and decided to seek an explanation from Ravi. KPCC president Sunny Joseph has said the issue has been reported to the AICC leadership. Ravi who did not deny the conversation said that the message was intended to strengthen the organizational structure of the Congress. His message has been clearly understood by the party members. The intention was to emphasize that without strengthening the organizational structures, the party would fall behind in elections. Such messages are consistently communicated to the grassroots organizational structures, he added. "The aim is to eliminate divisions within local factions. Only then can the Congress effectively challenge the CPM's rule. A small part of the phone conversation was taken out of context. Such messages are regularly communicated, both over the phone and otherwise," he said. In the phone conversation, Ravi said that after the next assembly elections, party workers will either switch to BJP or to CPM. The Muslims will move towards CPM. He alleged that there is no one in the Congress willing to walk among the people and talk to them. Everyone is responsible for burying the party with group politics. He mentioned that in the 60 assembly constituencies, one should observe what the BJP is planning to do. Just like they secured votes in the parliamentary elections by spending money, they will do the same here. The Congress party will fall to a miserable third position in the elections, he said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Push to declare Pumpwell, Padil as critical resilience zones
Mangaluru: In a push towards transforming Mangaluru into a climate-smart, flood-resilient coastal city, KPCC member and former secretary S Mohanadass Hegde submitted a comprehensive masterplan titled 'Mangaluru Flood-Free 2030: Pumpwell and Padil Underpass Resilience Initiative' to district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Hegde urged the state govt to declare Pumpwell and Padil, two of the city's flash flood-prone stretches, as critical resilience zones (CRZ), citing the recurring nature of waterlogging and infrastructure failure in these areas. The strategic roadmap lays out an ambitious yet actionable vision to eliminate flooding at major underpasses by 2027, backed by real-time early warning systems, green infrastructure such as rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavements, and community-led disaster mitigation strategies, Hegde said. The plan proposes a budget of Rs 51.5 crore for phased implementation, with potential collaborations identified with Smart City Mission, KUIDFC, CSR partners, and academic institutions like NITK and KSNDMC. Hegde recommended the appointment of a Special MCC Task Force to fast-track the initiative and commissioning of a detailed project report (DPR) through NITK or IISc on priority. He also called for a city-wide hackathon in 2025 to crowdsource innovative urban flood solutions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo He said that the initiative can serve as a model for urban flood management not just in Karnataka, but across India. "With coordinated action, Mangaluru could become a pioneering example of how cities can tackle the twin challenges of climate change and rapid urbanisation through integrated, tech-enabled, and participatory planning," Hegde added.
