<p>Divided opinions within the Congress party continue to delay the reopening of 418 liquor bars in Kerala that were forced to close down since April 1 for having failed to maintain prescribed quality standards.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The deadlock over the issue has become a stumbling block for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government. A crucial UDF meeting on Tuesday failed to take a step forward towards the reopening of the bars.<br /><br /> Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V M Sudheeran has taken a strong stance against their reopening while other senior Congress leaders desire that he adopt a “more practical” stand.<br /><br />Minister for Excise K Babu met Sudheeran on Tuesday to apprise him on the government’s stance on issuing bar licences. Sudheeran told reporters after the meeting that no breakthrough was made at the talks. <br /><br />The KPCC chief will have another round of talks with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday, party sources said.</p>
<p>Divided opinions within the Congress party continue to delay the reopening of 418 liquor bars in Kerala that were forced to close down since April 1 for having failed to maintain prescribed quality standards.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The deadlock over the issue has become a stumbling block for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government. A crucial UDF meeting on Tuesday failed to take a step forward towards the reopening of the bars.<br /><br /> Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president V M Sudheeran has taken a strong stance against their reopening while other senior Congress leaders desire that he adopt a “more practical” stand.<br /><br />Minister for Excise K Babu met Sudheeran on Tuesday to apprise him on the government’s stance on issuing bar licences. Sudheeran told reporters after the meeting that no breakthrough was made at the talks. <br /><br />The KPCC chief will have another round of talks with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday, party sources said.</p>
