Factionalism is the bane of Congress in Kerala, says P C Chacko after resignation

After spending 50 years in Congress, veteran leader from Kerala P C Chacko on Wednesday resigned from the party. The 75-year-old leader was a member of the Congress Working Committee, an MP and MLA several times. Chacko finds fault with the way Congress is conducting itself in Kerala. He spoke to DH's Shemin Joy soon after announcing his resignation.

Q: Why did you resign from Congress?

A: I have submitted my resignation. A letter has been sent to Sonia Gandhi. I have been deliberating about this move for the past few days. In Kerala, there is no Congress party but two parties -- Congress (I) led by Ramesh Chennithala and Congress (A) led by Oommen Chandy. The coordination committees of these two parties in Kerala are functioning as KPCC. Factionalism is the bane of Congress in Kerala. Kerala is facing an election. People want Congress to return to power but the stumbling block is factionalism. I had been continuously urging the High Command to put an end to this. Congress is contesting some 90 seats and it is divided between factions of Chennithala and Chandy. There is no democratic discussion in the party. The seats are shared by both the factions. There is a state Election Committee, which should decide on the names that could be considered by the national leadership. But names were not prepared by the state Election Committee. Only Chandy and Chennithala decide who will contest from their respective factions. This is disturbing and disappointing. Today in Kerala, one cannot be a Congressman. They can only be a faction member of Chennithala or a faction member of Chandy. So I decided to call it a day after 50 years of being in active politics.

Q: There is speculation about your future plans. What are your plans?

A: I have not thought about the future. This action is meant at prompting the party to rectify the mistakes. I am frustrated as the party is not rectifying. I have always taken a principled position. I was a Congressman who took the initiative to have a tie-up with the Left in 1980. I along with AK Antony had met EMS Namboodiripad. Later, Antony and his supporters left the coalition without valid reasons but I stayed back. I had taken a principled stand. I returned to the party along with Sharad Pawar when Rajiv Gandhi made a call asking all Congressmen to return to the mother party. Unfortunately, Congress is not able to function democratically now.

Q: Will you join BJP?

A: Absolutely no.

Q: You have a personal relationship with NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Kerala NCP leaders have welcomed you to the party. Is NCP an option?

A: There was speculation earlier that I will join NCP and that was my route to the Left Democratic Front in Kerala. I had denied it then itself. I have personal relations with Pawar but I had not joined him when he floated NCP raising the foreign-origin issue of Sonia Gandhi. I had then felt that he was wrong.

Q: You say you take a principled stand on politics. You had taken a principled stand against the BJP. The resignation from Congress comes at a time when Kerala is facing an election. Do you think your action will help the BJP? Will you support the Left to defeat the BJP?

A: BJP is not going to make any impact in Kerala. At the maximum, they may increase the number of seats from one to two. Nothing more even though they are spending money like anything. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are visiting Kerala frequently. But they cannot change the mindset of Malayalis, who cannot accept a communal party. BJP is not a political factor in Kerala. In Kerala, the Left and Congress are fighting against each other. We are two parties who should be together. When Rahul Gandhi was contesting from Wayanad, I had told him that it was not right. The Left is a friend of Congress in its fight against the BJP. Ideologically, I don't think we are enemies.

Q: Is candidature an issue? Will you contest?

A: I have quit Congress without any plans. I am not contesting the elections. That was never my demand. I have not even suggested names of others who could contest. All I want is the party to follow democratic norms. Being a political person, I am interested in political developments. Beyond that I am not having any attachment.

Q: Congress has given you Parliamentary and organisational responsibilities earlier. Is raising a rebellion at this juncture proper?

I never snatched anyone's opportunities. I was a winnable candidate. Whenever my name was suggested for candidature, there were no protests. I was shifted to three Lok Sabha seats and I won from all the seats. Yes, factionalism was there earlier too, but it is different now. Even at the height of factionalism during K Karunakaran and A K Antony's times, there were inner-party discussions. But that is not happening now.

Q: Did you reach out to High Command or state leaders?

A: I had sent a message to Rahul Gandhi ten minutes before I announced my decision through the press conference. He asked me whether it was absolutely necessary. I thanked him. I did not inform or call any state leaders.

Q: The timing of your action could weaken Congress. What is your take?

A: That question could arise. But the question is should I just swallow the questions in my mind and stay silent.

Q: There have been questions against the national leadership of the Congress. How do you respond?

A: Congress was functioning for one-and-half years without a proper leadership at the national level. Then despite her ill-health, Sonia Gandhi stepped in. Still, we are not able to find a President. The G-23 had contacted me. I told them it was not right. A signature campaign would mean questioning the leadership. However, none of them have questioned the leadership of Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. The G-23 have only said that there should be elections to the post of President and CWC. Party affairs should be held as per constitution. It is not because of BJP's strength that Congress is not able to counter the saffron party. It is because of the weakness of Congress. It is because of a lack of strong leadership. It is unfortunate.