Former Congress leader PC Chacko joined the Nationalist Congress Party on Tuesday. "I am formally joining the NCP today. NCP is part of the Left Democratic Front in Kerala. Once again, I am back in the LDF as a part of NCP," news agency ANI quoted Chacko as saying.
"Today, the need is the unity of the opposition. A united opposition should emerge as an alternative to the BJP. I don't see that initiative in the party which I was a member of earlier," Chacko also said, ANI reported.
Watch: Embarrassment for Congress as PC Chacko joins ally NCP
Chacko made the announcement in a press conference in Delhi. Communist Party of India (Marxist) chief Sitaram Yechury was also present at the conference. Before joining NCP, Chacko was a Member of Parliament from Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in Kerala.
On march 10, Chacko resigned from the Congress party and sent his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi. It was "very difficult for a sincere Congress worker to survive. Merit is not a concern at all," Chacko said while addressing a press conference. He also called Congress a rudderless ship that has failed to find a president for more than a year.
Further targeting senior Congress leaders in Kerala, Ramesh Chennithala and Oommen Chandy, Chacko said, "Both Chennithala and Chandy always divide seats and organisational posts between them."
Chacko also accused top leaders of Congress of practicing 'groupism'. "Kerala is facing a crucial election. People want Congress to come back but there's groupism practiced by top leaders of Congress. I've been arguing with high command that this should be ended. But the high command is also agreeing to the proposal given by both groups," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Chacko also accused top leaders of Congress of practicing 'groupism'. "Kerala is facing a crucial election. People want Congress to come back but there's groupism practiced by top leaders of Congress. I've been arguing with high command that this should be ended. But the high command is also agreeing to the proposal given by both groups," he said.
{{/usCountry}}The election for 140-member Kerala Assembly in 14 districts will be held in a single phase on April 6. The counting of votes will be held on May 2.