Thiruvananthapuram: AICC leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday assured chief minister V D Satheesan that the appointment of a full-time KPCC president would not be delayed further. Gandhi gave the assurance during their meeting at 10 Janpath, Sonia Gandhi’s official residence, in New Delhi, after Satheesan pressed for an early appointment, sources said.Satheesan’s main message to Rahul was that the KPCC needed a full-time president without further delay, as there is concern among members of its political affairs committee about the delay. He also highlighted the organisational difficulties in the absence of a full-time president during his 30-minute meeting. The state party chief, Sunny Joseph, is a minister in Satheesan cabinet.It is not clear whether the CM suggested any particular name during his meeting. Sources said Satheesan has no objection to the appointment of Joseph Vazhakkan, who is a nominee of home minister Ramesh Chennithala.Soon after returning to Kerala House following his meeting with Rahul, Satheesan was visited by Kodikunnil Suresh, who is among those aspiring to the KPCC president’s post. Suresh subsequently told the media that holding the post of an MP does not disqualify a person from becoming the party’s state president. He also said he would not contest the next Lok Sabha election, while openly expressing his interest in becoming the KPCC chief.The Congress high command, however, is reportedly giving priority to organisational issues in north Indian states where assembly elections are due in the coming months. It remains unclear whether the KPCC appointment will be announced immediately.According to sources, the PM SHRI controversy did not figure in the meeting. The AICC has maintained that the scheme is part of the Sangh Parivar agenda, while the state government has said it will implement it only if certain conditions are accepted, including no interference in the curriculum and the state retaining the authority to decide which schools will adopt the scheme.
