VM Sudheeran, whom the two major factions in the Congress party in Kerala have been gunning for since the Assembly election defeat, will continue to head the State party unit.

The top brass of the party has let Sudheeran stay inspite of pressure from the two major factions, the so-called ‘I’ and ‘A’ groups.

This was decided by the Congress high command which had summoned former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, current Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala and Sudheeran to Delhi on Saturday.

However, the party’s State and district units will soon have an overhaul to infuse young blood at all levels to keep it fit and take on the two cadre-based parties, the ruling CPI(M) and the over-ambitious BJP.

The party’s national leadership will also undertake ‘wider consultations’ with the important Kerala leaders, including those of the women and youth wings, before making corrective steps.

The three leaders met Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Mukul Wasnik – party general secretary in charge of Kerala – and senior leader AK Antony.

However, party sources indicated that Rahul Gandhi would be directly handling the overhaul.

In the recently-concluded polls, Congress could secure only 22 out of the 140 seats and three members of the former Oommen Chandy government had lost.

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