Thiruvananthapuram: Differences over implementing the PM Shri scheme in the state surfaced at the KPCC political affairs committee meeting on Thursday, with AICC general secretary in charge of the state Deepa Dasmunsi maintaining that the state should not proceed with it.The discussion on PM Shri was initiated by Johnson Abraham, considered close to the K C Venugopal group. He argued that the UDF govt should not implement a scheme that the Congress had strongly opposed while in the opposition.Dasmunsi, who attended the meeting as the AICC representative, backed the demand for withdrawal from the scheme. Her position is being viewed as reflecting the Congress high command’s stand.However, chief minister V D Satheesan did not fully accept the demand. Explaining the status of the agreement with the Centre, he pointed out that withdrawal was not practically possible under its terms. He said withdrawal could also lead to a stoppage of central funds. A cabinet sub-committee is examining the matter and will take the party’s views into account before submitting a report, he said.The meeting also saw criticism of the functioning of the party organisation. Some members alleged that the party machinery had weakened considerably and stressed the need for a new KPCC president and better coordination between the party and the govt.Meanwhile, Satheesan informed the committee that discussions on the division of board and corporation positions will be completed by the middle of this month. It was also decided that the KPCC would prepare guidelines for appointments to boards and corporations allocated to the Congress.
