The constitution of the new Congress Working Committee has sparked fireworks within the party, especially in Kerala where some key leaders were left out.

While veteran A.K. Antony and Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor were named in the CWC, Kodikunnil Suresh was named among the special invitees and Ramesh Chennithala had to be content with being a permanent invitee once again after 19 years.

Now only an MLA after being replaced as leader of the Opposition two years ago following the 2021 state election rout, the first reaction of Chennithala was nothing unusual as he expressed surprise at being ignored for a seat in the CWC.

But he has now surprised everyone by toeing the party line.“It is true that I was hurt as the CWC list came as a total surprise and I had no clue about it,” Chennithala told The Telegraph on Tuesday.

“I heard about the CWC list while campaigning in Puthupally (for Chandy Oommen, who won by a landslide in the bypoll). But I continued the election work for 20 days without reacting since I didn’t want to give a whip to the CPM,” he said, citing the reason for his silence.

“I have now reconciled to the fact that it is the party high command’s decision which I will continue to abide by. So I am attending the September 16-17 CWC meeting in Hyderabad and will continue as a loyal soldier of my party that has given me everything,” he said.

The 67-year-old Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist had twice been part of the CWC, the first time in the late 1980s as a special invitee and then in 2004 as a permanent invitee. A former AICC secretary, he had also held charges of seven different states.

“AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi know me very well. I am at their disposal to take up any responsibility or just remain a party worker,” said Chennithala, who didn’t want to precipitate matters.

Chennithala was the leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly until the rout in 2021 when the CPM-led Left Democratic Front was voted back to power for a second consecutive term. He was quickly replaced by V.D. Satheesan, limiting the man who steered the Congress during several crises to just the Assembly and no major party role. He had then complained to the high command about ignoring him for the post.

His reaction to the CWC issue is in total contrast to that of another former state president and current Lok Sabha member K. Muraleedharan. “Dirty linen must be washed if the dirt has to be washed away,” Muraleedharan told reporters, alluding to how senior leaders like him have been sidelined.

“The high command is supreme and all of us will follow any decision it takes. But then, we might express our disappointment,” he said, without mincing words.