Tharoor backers, DCC gen secy clash at LS polls planning meet

Thiruvananthapuram: A meeting convened at the district Congress committee to plan for the preparation of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections ended in a war of words between supporters of Tharoor and DCC general secretary Thampanoor Satheesh.
Satheesh criticized Tharoor’s style of functioning at the meeting, it is learnt. He alleged that the MP has been involved in criticizing the party leadership, both at the state and AICC levels. Tharoor has not been performing for the people even though the party gave him the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat for three consecutive terms, he alleged.
However, Satheesh’s comments did not go down well with the Tharoor supporters. They had heated exchanges with Satheesh. Even leaders present at the meeting, including Vadakara MP K Muraleedharan and DCC president Palode Ravi, did not take Satheesh’s comments well.
Satheesh offered a different version to the clashes at the meeting. Satheesh said he had asked Tharoor’s personal staff members to go out of the hall where the meeting was going on. They did not like this and hence they attacked me, he alleged.
Thiruvananthapuram MP’s personal staff members said the DCC general secretary insulted Tharoor at the meeting and it was questioned by the other leaders present in the meeting. Sateesh did not like this and so he is putting the blame on the MP’s office, they said. tnn