Chennithala objects to NSS dragging his name

The war of attrition between Nair Service Society (NSS) and Congress in Kerala hotted up Tuesday with an embarrassed KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala objecting to the community outfit dragging his name to score points against the UDF government headed by Oommen Chandy. Reacting to NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair's open call that Chennithala should have been given a key position in the ministry, the Congress leader said it was his own decision not to join the cabinet. "It was the decision of the High Command that I should contest the last assembly elections and the decision not to join the cabinet was my own," he told reporters.

Refusing to detract from his position, Nair said at the NSS headquarters at Perunna in Kottayam that Chennithala was under pressure to make statements against him and dared the Congress leadership to prove that there was no pre-poll pact between the NSS and Congress that Chennithala would be given a key role in the ministry. An emotional Chennithala also said there had been a 'conspiracy' to challenge his secular credentials and asserted that at no point in his career had he deviated from the basic ideals of the Congress party. Chennithala also said leaders of community organisations should not 'cross limits' while making public comments.

"My secular credentials have never been questioned. Community leaders should not cross limits while expressing their views," he said. The raging debate in political circles in Kerala was sparked off by the address of the NSS leader at the "Nair sammelanam" here on Sunday, in which he accused the Congress led UDF Government with "upsetting the communal balance" in governance and made a strong pitch for installing Chennithala in a key position in the ministry. Nair also said the Congress central leadership had given a word to NSS on the eve of 2011 assembly polls that Chennithala would be given a "key position" in the event of the UDF dislodging the LDF.

Several Congress and UDF leaders had reacted sharply to Nair's statement, holding that it would only harm Responding strongly against the demand raised by Nair Service Society to include him in the Kerala cabinet, Ramesh Chennitthala denied any such move from his side. Emphasizing his secular credentials, he said that his stand for secularism was perfect and well known. He also alleged that conspiracies have been plotted against him by enemies. “All sects supported me in the election. However, not to join the cabinet is my own decision.” Pointing out the demand of Sukumaran Nair, NSS General Secretary, to give room for Chennitthala in cabinet, Ramesh said it is Sukumaran Nair's own view. “ I am still sticking on to my previous decision not to enter the cabinet.”