IUML mouthpiece slams delay in Kerala CM pick

Kozhikode: In a strongly worded editorial, Samastha mouthpiece Suprabhaatham said Congress's delay in naming its chief minister pick had exposed the party's inefficiency and lack of accountability towards the people. It said that the developments over the last few days show that when it comes to parties who think that there is no need for commitment towards people, Congress is not far behind. "The people of Kerala removed a govt that had ruled for the last 10 years and delivered a historic verdict in favour of UDF. But instead of assuming constitutional responsibilities with an understanding of the larger meaning and obligations of that mandate, Congress is engaged in shadow wars," the editorial said. It described as ‘surprising incompetence' the failure of the 102 MLAs and the front leadership in electing a leader even after prolonged discussions. "The controversies and disputes arising out of the delay are an insult to the people and amount to challenging the public mandate," it said. The editorial added that the delay in naming the next CM could not be justified merely by claiming that "this is how things function in Congress". "It was not merely the votes of Congress and its allies that elected the 63 MLAs of the party and remaining MLA belonging to the front. The verdict came from people across political affiliations, including many who did not belong to any party," it said. According to the editorial, it was the strong public sentiment against the LDF govt that created the wave in favour of UDF, with even sections of Left cadres becoming part of that shift. "Congress must admit that its inability to elect its parliamentary party leader even a week after the results were declared is a reflection of its inefficiency," it said. The editorial further said Congress needed to introspect whether the crisis stemmed from a leadership incapable of convincing party leaders, or from leaders unwilling to abide by the leadership's decisions.