Kochi: Ramesh Ramakrishnan Chennithala, 70, has revolted against the party for missing the bus to become Chief Minister.
He is reported to boycott the Congress Legislative Party meeting to protest against the party’s decision, media reports said.
A leader who is the person to become a state Minister at the age 28 was once an active leader of his mentor and late Chief Minister Karunakaran.
In his quest to reach higher echelons of political status he ditched Karunakaran when he was trapped in ISRO spy case.
After Karunakaran’s demise, Chennithala was the leader of the group while Oommen Chandy led Antony group.
In the middle of his political maneuvering to outpower rivals in Congress, the Opposition BJP captured power at Centre led Prime Minister Narendra Modi while Congress lost out to the Left front in Kerala.
Thereafter it was a drought for the Congress and its allies ten years.
Chennithala’s rivals painted him as an ineffective Opposition Leader due to Congress’ losing polls consecutively for the second time in 2021.
BJP grew in strength in Kerala at the cost of Congress’ factionalism leading the saffron party walking away with Thrissur Lok Sabha seat.
Back home at Congress, leaders like K C Venugopal and V D Satheesan reinforced their position nudging out Chennithala to the back seat.
Chennithala has been in the Frontline to become Chief Minister since long.
Once a hardline supporter of legendary late Chief Minister Karunakaran, Chennithala backstabbed Karunakaran
when he was accused of being behind the ISRO spy case.
Chennithala became the Kerala Students Union (KSU) Chennithala High School Unit Secretary in 1970.
In 1982, he became All India President of the National Students Union of India and later in the same year was elected as MLA from Haripad Constituency. In 1985, he became the General Secretary of Indian Youth Congress and went on to become the youngest Minister (Rural Development) in the Ministry of K Karunakaran in 1986 at the age of 28.
Chennithala sulks for missing cm bus
