The move began at the KPCC headquarters, Indira Bhavan, in Thiruvananthapuram, where party workers removed flex boards from the office premises soon after the leaders made the appeal in New Delhi following discussions with the Congress high command.
Congress workers, including Youth Congress and KSU activists, also removed flex boards of the three leaders installed across the state capital.
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A rally planned in support of Satheesan at Sultan Bathery was also called off while the meeting was underway in New Delhi.
Apart from Thiruvananthapuram, Congress workers removed flex boards installed by supporters of the three leaders in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kannur, Kottayam and Wayanad districts.
On the other hand, a group of supporters also held a demonstration in support of Satheesan in Malappuram even after the appeal.The appeal came after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge met in New Delhi with Satheesan, Venugopal and Chennithala, along with KPCC president Sunny Joseph and AICC general secretary in-charge of Kerala, Deepa Dasmunshi, over the selection of the leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) who will be the next chief minister of Kerala.
Later in the evening, Satheesan, Chennithala, Venugopal, Joseph and Dasmunshi jointly addressed reporters and appealed to party workers to refrain from demonstrations and flex board campaigns.
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Satheesan said separate demonstrations, social media campaigns and flex board displays linked to the chief minister’s selection had created an impression of division within the party.
“So, we are all together requesting that you please do not carry out such demonstrations and campaigns for any of us. It will hurt Congress workers, UDF activists and the large number of people who voted for us,” he said.
He urged UDF workers not to conduct any further campaigns and asked that all flex boards related to the issue be removed by Saturday night.
Venugopal said some unfortunate incidents had taken place and should come to an end.
“We are all party members. The party and the people are most important to us. There is nothing wrong with liking someone, but campaigns on our behalf while tarnishing the image of others should end,” he said.
Chennithala also said the flex board war, demonstrations and social media campaigns should stop.
“It should all end so that it does not tarnish the image of the party before the people. Party workers should remain united. All flex boards should be removed tonight, and all campaigns should end. Whatever decision the Congress high command takes should be accepted by all,” he said.
Joseph said everyone wanted the recent unfortunate incidents to be corrected.
“We request all party workers and supporters to cooperate with us in this regard,” he said.
UDF secured a thumping victory in the state assembly election, winning 102 out of 140 seats.
The Congress, the prominent constituent of the UDF, has 63 MLAs.
Recently, the CLP passed a resolution stating that the next chief minister of Kerala will be decided by the party president.
