KPCC directs media panellists to stick to party line, avoid airing personal views

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 19 (PTI) The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee has directed its media panellists to refrain from expressing personal opinions or exposing internal differences in public and present only the party's official stance while interacting with the media. In a circular issued by KPCC General Secretary and Media Chairperson Deepthi Mary Varghese, the party said on Sunday that media panellists should project only the Congress' official policies and decisions in the media and on social media. The circular asked them not to publicly air personal opinions or organisational differences and said any disagreements should be raised only through the party's internal forums. It also cautioned leaders against making statements, participating in discussions or posting on social media in a manner that could tarnish the image of the party and its leadership. The circular further stressed that party discipline, unity and responsibility should be upheld while interacting with the media, saying the party's unity and discipline were its greatest strength. The directive comes amid a controversy within the Congress over the appointment of a former SFI leader as a government pleader, which has triggered public exchanges among party leaders. The row also intensified following allegations that Chief Minister V D Satheesan had ignored KSU state president Aloshious Xavier during a college programme in Kochi earlier this week, with several Congress leaders publicly backing either Satheesan or Xavier through television debates and social media posts. The controversy over the government pleader's appointment erupted after Satheesan had said that government pleaders were appointed on the basis of merit and recommendations and that the government would not function under pressure from political or student organisations. The Congress' student wing, KSU, has opposed the appointment of a former SFI leader as a government pleader. On Friday, Xavier asserted that if the UDF government considered his opposition to the appointment of the former SFI activist a "mistake", he would repeat it. PTI LGK ROH