Jocular Rahul tells Kerala unit to quarrel after Assembly polls

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday called for unity within the Kerala unit of the party as it braces for Assembly elections in three months.

Rahul’s statement comes as an open acknowledgement of factional power struggles in the party though the leader chose to wrap the message with wry humour. “Once the election is over, you are more than welcome to fight among yourselves. I have no problem. I will in fact come here and listen to all your fights… but now is not the time,” said Rahul, while addressing a Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) executive meeting here.

The fight between factions led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has peaked amid reports that Chandy’s rivals are pushing for a leadership change citing damage over the solar scam.