A senior Congress leader faces disciplinary action in Kerala for organising a Palestine solidarity rally ignoring a party diktat against the meeting, construed as a factional event.

State Congress general secretary Aryadan Shoukath, one of the most influential leaders in Rahul Gandhi’s Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, organised the rally in Malappuram on Friday.

While the event was successful, drawing thousands, the state Congress leadership was miffed. Shaukath appeared before state Congress disciplinary committee chairman Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan at a preliminary hearing on Monday evening.

"The disciplinary committee heard Shoukath who submitted a written explanation, the contents of which cannot be disclosed at this stage. Since we need more clarification, we will meet again on Wednesday and take a decision on the disciplinary action," Radhakrishnan told reporters.

Shoukath, son of the late Aryadan Mohammed who had been the party’s Muslim face, told reporters: "I explained everything and made it clear there is no change in my position on the Palestine issue."

The CPM has fastened on the controversy and attacked the Congress for neither organising any Palestine solidarity event nor allowing its members to do so.

“It’s now clear that the Congress position on Palestine is similar to the BJP’s,” CPM central committee member A.K. Balan told reporters on Monday.

He warned the Congress that it would “crumble if any action is taken against Shoukath”.

“The LDF (CPM-led Left Democratic Front) will extend full support to Shoukath if he is subject to any action,” Balan said.