Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress in the state has begun preparing for the elections with a call for party unity by Defence Minister A.K. Antony and the ground being prepared for Ramesh Chennithala to join the Oommen Chandy government.
At the same time, the draft election manifesto prepared by the KPCC has suggested giving ‘relief to the kitchen’ by providing 12 LPG cylinders to all the families at subsidised rates.
Antony urged the Congress leaders and the government to work unitedly in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
He asked the party leaders to settle the differences of opinion within the party itself without allowing them to reach dangerous levels.
He was addressing the party workers after receiving a copy of the election manifesto prepared by the three-member sub-committee set up by the KPCC.
Antony warned that if partymen can’t remain united, they should get ready to perish.
Meanwhile, speculation is rife that KPCC chief Ramesh Chennithala may join the Chandy government to try to avoid a drubbing for the party in the Lok Sabha elections.
Warning KPCC leaders who are embroiled in group politics, Antony said that if they remained united, they could reap rich dividends.
The problems in the party should be solved collectively. “Unity is important for strengthening the party. If we move unitedly, the New Year will be the party’s. The party should create a conducive environment to face the New Year challenges,” he said.
When reporters asked him about the possibility of Chennithala joining the cabinet, he said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Chennithala were the apt persons to answer it.
Congress sources told DC that it is with this agenda that Chennithala has been trying to bring in many leaders of ‘I’ camp to the KPCC executive before January 10.
The highlight of the KPCC’s manifesto prepared by KPCC general secretaries Dr Sooranad Rajasekharan, Satheeshan Pacheni and Sajeev Joseph is ‘relief to the kitchen.’
All the families will be given 12 LPG cylinders at Rs 500 per cylinder in a year.
It will also be ensured that cylinders are delivered to the consumers within seven days of the date of booking.
Another recommendation is that the government should regulate the prices of petrol and diesel. Also, all the families whose monthly income is less than Rs 10, 000 and who own a two-wheeler should be given 10 litres of petrol in a month at 25 percent below market price.
Next: Antony flays frequent disruption of Assembly
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