AK Antony calls for unity in Congress

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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AK Antony calls for unity in Congress

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

View the original article here

UDF allies count on ‘Antony’ factor

Thiruvananthapuram: Union Defence Minister A. K. Antony, who will  arrive here on Sunday night, is expected to hold consultations with both Congress leaders as well as allies on the Lok Sabha seats.

Though he is coming  primarily  to attend a few public programmes, the allies will demand more seats during talks with Antony. However, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala denied that such meetings have  been planned.

Antony is visiting the state  after a long period as he was laid up in Delhi due to prostate surgery and its complications. On Monday, he has  a hectic day with participating in the finale of the year-long 125th anniversary celebrations of Kerala Assembly. Chennithala told DC that discussions on parliamentary seats and candidates will begin officially only after the next UDF meeting on January 3.

“The KPCC has not charted any party programme except laying the foundation stone of K. Karunakaran centre at Nandavanam on Monday evening. Prior to that,  the  KPCC will submit the draft of the manifesto committee report to be included in the AICC’s manifesto,” Chennithala told DC.

“It is to be seen whether Antony will succeed in convincing the allies against having additional seats. If he fails, the Congress will lose one or two seats from the existing 17 Lok Sabha seats,”  said a KPCC general secretary.

The KPCC has called for a meeting of general secretaries and DCC presidents on January 6 to discuss the list of  probable candidates.

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