A “leaked” conversation in which a Congress leader purportedly predicts a setback to his own party in next year’s assembly election has left the party red in the face, resulting in the leader stepping down from his position.
Congress Thiruvananthapuram district committee president Palod Ravi had to step down after an audio purportedly had him saying that the Congress would be “dead stock” after the assembly polls. The person in the audio says: “you see what BJP is going to do in 60 assembly constituencies. They will bag votes after pumping money as they had done in the Parliament elections. The Marxists Party will continue in power. This is what is going to happen and Congress will become a dead stock after the elections”.
The voice goes on to say: “Those in the Muslim community will go to the Communist party and other parties. Men stated to be Congress will also go to BJP. Congress has no workers who can approach the people. We have only ten per cent of workers who can go to the people and work among them,’’ he said”.
After the leak, Congress state president Sunny Joseph said the issue “is serious”.
“He has not denied it. The party is consulting with the AICC leaders and there would be appropriate action,” he said.
The party also expelled a block level leader, identified as A Jaleel, for allegedly leaking the recorded conversation to the media.
Kerala is due to hold assembly elections next year.