N.D. Appachan, who served as the president of the Wayanad District Congress Committee (DCC), has tendered his resignation. Reports indicate that this decision came directly from the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). For the time being, T.J. Isaac, who currently chairs the Kalpetta Municipality, will assume the additional responsibility of DCC president.
Internal disagreements between two prominent factions within the district’s party unit had long been a source of significant worry for the KPCC. One faction, led by Sulthan Bathery MLA I.C. Balakrishnan, frequently voiced opposition to the group headed by Mr. Appachan. This persistent infighting eventually compelled the KPCC to issue a stern warning, urging them to resolve their differences peacefully.
Adding to the party’s woes, the tragic suicides of several local leaders in the district further intensified the pressure on the organization. The State Congress leadership was particularly concerned about the detrimental impact of negative reports emanating from Wayanad, a constituency represented in the Lok Sabha by prominent Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. This resignation is also strategically timed, occurring just as the KPCC prepares for a broader replacement of DCC presidents throughout the state.
Sources reveal that the party’s central leadership had instructed the KPCC to thoroughly address the issues within its Wayanad unit well in advance of the upcoming local body elections in the state. During Ms. Vadra’s recent visit to the district, K.C. Venugopal, the All-India Congress Committee general secretary for organization, and Sunny Joseph, the KPCC president, engaged in discussions with local district leaders to tackle these concerns.