A brewing storm within the Youth Congress is intensifying into a full-blown crisis, as Puthuppally MLA Chandy Oommen publicly denounced the party leadership. His candid criticism stems from his recent removal from influential organizational positions, sparking widespread attention.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Mr. Oommen highlighted the perceived injustice, stating, “Abin Varkey is a highly deserving individual who has dedicated years of service to this party. The decision to elevate him to the national leadership should have been made with his input. While the reasons for his exclusion from the Youth Congress presidency are widely understood, I choose not to disclose them at this moment, but I promise to do so in the future.”
Coincidentally, Oommen’s powerful statements emerged on the very day the newly appointed Youth Congress president, O.J. Janeesh, paid homage at the Puthuppally tomb of the late Congress stalwart Oommen Chandy, just before officially taking office. This timing further amplified the political undertones of the situation.
According to party insiders, this public outburst underscores a persistent rivalry between Mr. Oommen and the influential duo of Shafi Parambil and Rahul Mamkootathil. This friction reportedly began when Mr. Oommen was controversially removed from his responsibilities in the Youth Congress national outreach cell.
Mr. Oommen is convinced that his removal was a direct result of a report submitted by Mr. Mamkootathil to the national leadership, shortly after Mamkootathil himself took over as Youth Congress president in November 2023.
Sources within the Youth Congress revealed that Mr. Oommen experienced significant humiliation, learning of his dismissal from the position on the emotional occasion of his father’s death anniversary, and crucially, without any prior explanation. He reportedly discovered his expulsion only after being removed from the official WhatsApp group for the Outreach Cell.
Political analysts suggest that Oommen’s direct challenge to the leadership is multifaceted. They note a perceived alignment between the group led by Mr. Parambil and K.C. Venugopal, leading Mr. Oommen to express concerns about potential further marginalization within the party structure.