PC Chacko quits,says "no democracy" left in Congress

Veteran Congress leader PC Chacko quit the party on Wednesday complaining that there was "no democracy left" in the Congress and not sparing the "high command" in his recriminations. In his resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi, , Chacko has  said, "I worked hard for the party, but it is really difficult to work with the Kerala Congress team. I stood with every decision taken by Congress, but it's now very difficult. You can't run a party with one central character." Chako firmly dismissed speculation about joining the BJP.

After resigning from the party, PC Chacko blamed the Kerala Congress leadership and said it functions between two distinct groups and the party high command is a mute spectator. "Congress is functioning in Kerala not as a party, but a coordination committee between two groups. Congress in Kerala is managed by Group leaders of A and I. There has been no discussion within the election committee on the candidates for the Kerala election," said Chacko. He further attacked Kerala Congress leaders Ommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala saying they are the ones deciding candidates based on their groupings in the party and "the high command is being a mute spectator". Chacko also observed that the issues raised by rebel G-23 group must also be looked into as they have "raised some genuine issues" and never attacked the leadership.

Accusing his party of ignoring state leaders in the selection of candidates for the Kerala polls, Chacko said: "There is no democracy left in Congress. The list of candidates has not been discussed with the state Congress committee. There are no panels for any discussions on polls, winnability of candidates. There have always been factions in parties, even in the Congress, but there is no point anymore." He wondered caustically whether votes would be counted or announced as "Congress(I) and Congress (A)".