KC(B) impasse resolved

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Claiming a breakthrough in the standoff between Kerala Congress (B)chairman R Balakrishna Pillai and his Minister son K B Ganesh Kumar, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala said after separate meetings with them that all outstanding issues in the KC(B) have been solved. “Minister K B Ganesh Kumar has agreed to abide by his party’s directives and all the outstanding issues in KC(B) has been solved. This will strengthen the KC(B) and the UDF as a whole,’’ said Chennithala.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and UDF convener P P Thankachan held separate discussions with both Balakrishna Pillai and Ganesh Kumar on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters after the meet, Balakrishna Pillai said that he was fully satisfied with the discussions he had with the Chief Minister and the KPCC president. ‘’As of now I am fully satisfied with the meeting. But it has to be seen in the coming days as what would be the result. If Ganesh Kumar is ready to abide by the party decisions and work under it then there won’t be any problem,’’ he said. Oommen Chandy said that Ganesh Kumar had assured to abide by the main demand of Pillai that the minister should follow the directives to the party.‘’Everything has been settled amicably in the discussions we had with Pillai and Ganesh Kumar. The minister has agreed to abide by the party decisions and so there won’t be any more problems,’’ he said. It is learnt that Pillai has raised the demand that half of the present personal staff of Ganesh Kumar should be removed and at least 13 new persons nominated by Pillai should be appointed. Also, the UDF had offered a Corporation under Industries Department to the KC(B). Pillai had also demanded that the minister should consult with the party before he appoints or removes officials in his department.Pillai also wanted the postings in the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy to be reviewedAfter the meeting, Ganesh Kumar told reporters that he was always accountable to the party and all postings in the Cultural Department were done with the knowledge of the UDF.  ‘’I have not taken any biased decisions till now. Currently there are no problems but it has to seen how the situation unfolds in the coming days,’’ he said.