New Delhi: The Congress leadership instructed the state leaders on Friday to take strict action against them if they dissolve the party's discipline amid controversy with the statements of party MP Shashi Tharoor. Sources said that in a meeting with leaders of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, former party president Rahul Gandhi also said that he and Congress have an emotional relationship with this state and no one should express such opinion that insults the people of Kerala.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized the need for discipline in this meeting and said that everyone has to unite and enter the upcoming elections of the state. In the meeting which lasted more than three hours at the Congress headquarters 'Indira Bhavan', party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former president Rahul Gandhi along with party organization general secretary KC Venugopal, general secretary and Lok Sabha member Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, state in -charge Deepa Dasmunshi, State Congress Committee President K.K. Sudhakaran, Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor and several other senior leaders of the state were involved.

At the same time, after the meeting, Congress's Kerala in -charge Deepa Dasmunshi told reporters that strict action will be taken against those who make statements other than the interest of the party. He said, “There are local bodies elections in Kerala, then assembly elections are to be held next year. It was talked about how we should go to the elections and what should be our strategy and 'roadmap'. “

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He also said that, “The Congress has received a clear message from the high command that the Congress has emotional and politically engagement with the people of Kerala, people want change.” In such a situation, we should not do anything that insults the people of Kerala. If anyone makes a statement on the contrary, then we will take strict action because we have no right to insult the people of Kerala. ”

Along with this, Deepa Dasmunshi said that the programs of the next few months were discussed and in April there will be a state conference of ward presidents in which the top leadership will be present. He claimed that a section of the media is presenting such a picture that the Congress is not united in Kerala, while the party is completely united. The leaders involved in this meeting emphasized discipline, solidarity and strength of the organization in the Kerala unit. After the meeting, Kerala leaders along with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi took photographs and at the press conference, Venugopal, Tharoor and some other leaders were seen standing with Deepa Dasmunsi.

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With this, the Congress tried to present a picture of solidarity. Sources said, “Rahul Gandhi's message in the meeting was that we are very emotionally connected with the people of Kerala. Previously he was an MP from Kerala, now Priyanka Gandhi is an MP. ” According to him, Rahul Gandhi said, “The people of Kerala want change, so we should be very careful about our roadmap. We should not do or say anything that is against the party line. Doing this means that we are insulting the people of Kerala. ”

At the same time, if sources are to be believed, Kharge emphasized the need for discipline in this meeting and said that everyone has to unite and enter the upcoming elections of the state. The meeting of Congress leaders of Kerala was important in such a way that these days there is speculation about the party MP and senior leader Shashi Tharoor being unhappy. In this meeting, no clarification was sought from Tharoor as he had made it clear through the post on 'X' before the meeting that his words have been presented incorrectly.

However, sources also say that all the leaders including Tharoor were clearly told that they should not make any statement that is not in the interest of the party. Controversy arose over a recent article written in a newspaper by Lok Sabha member Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram. In this article, he praised the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for promoting the investment environment in Kerala. He is on the target of some leaders of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee.

Significantly, Tharoor recently met Rahul Gandhi and it is believed that he put his side before him. Former Union Minister Tharoor had described the news published in a newspaper as fake, as he was quoted that if the Congress does not need his service, he also has other options. The Congress is the main opposition party in Kerala. The state is expected to hold assembly elections in March-April next year. The state is also to be held in the election of permanent body this year.

(With agency input)