After leading anti-liquor campaign in Kerala, VM Sudheeran facing criticism from party men

KOCHI: After leading the anti-liquor campaign from the front, KPCC president VM Sudheeran is now facing all-round criticism from his own party men and alliance partners for putting the government in a fix with his adamant stand on the liquor issue. Soon after the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced the “practical“ changes in liquor policy, Sudheeran had issued a strongly worded statement against it. But the dispute over liquor policy seems to be worsening within the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF), with some members holding Sudheeran's stand responsible for the rift.

The KPCC vice president MM Hassan said that Sudheeran has breached the discipline of the party when he criticised the decisions taken by the cabinet. The achievements of the government were shown in poor light because of his criticisms, said. Hassan has been critical of the policy of total prohibition as advocated by Sudheeran from the very beginning.

Government Chief Whip PC George was the other UDF leader who came out openly against Sudheeran. He said that a majority of the MLAs in UDF supported the practical changes in the liquor policy announced by the Chief Minister. The rift over liquor policy widened because of the group fights in the party and the adamant stand of Sudheeran, he added.

Sree Narayana Dharma Pari palana (SNDP) Yogam generalse cretary Vellapilly Nateshan said that all leaders in UDF secretly agree that the policy to introduce a ban on liquor was a mistake.By campaigning for an impractical liquor policy, Sudheeran has brought together the rival groups in the party. They have come together against the liquor policy, he said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy dismissed the rumours that he has called for a meeting of the Congress MLAs because Sudheeran has strongly criticised the changes that he proposed to the liquor policy. The Chief Minister said that he merely told some MLAs who wanted to meet him that he will be available at the state capital.