Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) disciplinary committee chairperson Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan has cracked the whip on mudslinging by Congress workers on social media in the wake of party leader K.V. Thomas’ contentious participation at a seminar hosted by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in connection with the recently concluded 23rd party congress in Kannur.
After chairing a meeting of the committee here on Tuesday, Mr. Radhakrishnan said the KPCC would take strong and impartial action against those who try to malign the party and its leaders on the social media. The disciplinary committee has decided to seek the help of modern technology to trace anti-party activities in the cyber network and take action against the perpetrators, he said.
He said the KPCC is apprehensive of such organisational misconduct, which seems to be on the rise. It is the responsibility and duty of every member to uphold the prestige and dignity of the party. However, at least some party members seem to be indulging in anti-party activities on the social media, either guided by sheer emotion or may be to capture public attention. These activities are acceptable, Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
The Congress is a party which stands for inner-party democracy. It has forums within the party for members to air their grievances and to seek solutions. Instead of raising one’s issues there, airing the grievances widely amongst the public through the social media and resorting to mudslinging are not something the Congress could approve. People indulging in such activities should stop it immediately, Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
The disciplinary committee has taken certain decisions so that members do not give cause for political enemies to point fingers at the party. Party members trying to air their grievances in the social media would be reckoned as infringing on organisational discipline, he said
He appealed to all social media-active party workers to moderate their behaviour and to see the disciplinary committee’s decision as essential measures necessary to keep the party’s cohesion.
