Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) imposed strict restrictions on its official spokespersons amid escalating factional infighting in the state unit, directing them not to express personal views or discuss internal party matters in public.In a circular issued by KPCC general secretary and media department in charge Deepthi Mary Varghese, the party said recent public statements by some spokespersons created an impression of internal discord and damaged party’s image. It instructed functionaries to raise differences of opinion only through internal party forums.The advisory directs spokespersons to present only Congress’s official stand in public, avoid personal opinions that could create confusion, refrain from discussing organisational issues or policy differences in the media, and maintain discipline during television debates, interviews and social media interactions. The circular states that grievances should be addressed only through party’s internal mechanisms.The move comes as Congress brass is struggling to contain a widening internal rift triggered by the controversial appointment of Jaeona James and D S Sharath as senior govt pleaders. The appointment, opposed by KSU over allegations of the appointees’ links with RSS and SFI, led to an open confrontation between chief minister V D Satheesan and KSU state president Aloysius Xavier.Xavier is expected to seek another appointment with chief minister. KPCC brass has advised KSU against staging public protests, while Xavier has directed KSU functionaries not to make public statements on the issue.The controversy exposed divisions among party spokespersons. Public criticism of chief minister by spokespersons Anoop V R and Jinto John prompted the Satheesan camp to reportedly seek their removal from party’s media panel. Ernakulam DCC general secretary Raju P Nair submitted a complaint to KPCC president Sunny Joseph and Varghese, arguing that allowing spokespersons who publicly criticised chief minister to continue in their roles would undermine party’s credibility.Several Congress veterans also expressed concern over the public factional clashes, with a section demanding that KPCC political affairs committee be convened to discuss the growing crisis. The latest directive is seen as an attempt by Congress brass to restore discipline and prevent internal disputes from spilling further into the public domain.
