Oommen Chandy says no open debate on party issues

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Holding that he was not prepared for a public debate on issues raised by state Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said if problems are there in the party they would be sorted out.


"I am not prepared for a public debate. If there are issues they will be sorted out through talks at the state level or discussions involving central leadership," he said.

He was reacting to reporters' queries on what Chennithala had purportedly said in an interview with a newspaper that he felt humiliated over the issue of non-induction with an important portfolio.

"I would not be part of any move to humiliate any Congress leader," Chandy said when his comment was sought on the ruffled feelings of Chennithala.

On Chennithala's reported comment that it would be difficult for him to maintain the same cordial relations with Chandy in the wake of the recent development, the chief minister said he did not think that the KPCC president would have said that.

Cordial relations maintained by Chandy and Chennithala took a discordant turn recently over the issue of latter's possible induction into the state cabinet with a key portfolio.

While Chandy and his supporters are not averse to Chennithala being accommodated in the the ministry, they are opposed to giving him the home portfolio with the rank of deputy chief minister, which triggered the current round of fretting and fuming involving leaders from rival camps.