JOIN USAICC general secretary in charge of Kerala Mukul Wasnik is set to meet the Congress district committees in the southern districts during his two-day visit to the state that commenced on Wednesday.
Wasnik is also expected to defuse tension between rival camps of the party and ensure a united front ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year.
Deliberations and intervention by top leaders, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, have failed to rein in the factions affiliated to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala.
Wasnik’s visit does not offer quick-fix solutions, but party sources said that in the backdrop of more opposition protests being planned against Chandy over his alleged involvement in the solar panel scam, the presence of a national leader could help in bringing cadres together.
Adding to the opposition fire and problems within the party is the constant criticism of senior Congress leaders by government Chief Whip and Kerala Congress (M) leader P C George.
He fired another salvo at the government on Wednesday when he questioned the effectiveness of senior Congress leader Aryadan Mohammed as the state’s minister for power.