Don't make tipplers Congress office bearers: Kerala chief

Thiruvananthapuram, July 31 (IANS) Kerala state Congress chief V.M. Sudheeran Thursday made a passionate plea to party leaders not to include people who imbibe alcohol or use drugs as office bearers.

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee has announced an organisational revamp from the grassroots to the district level.

"Tipplers, or those under the influence of drugs, in no way should be elected to the post of office bearers at any level," Sudheeran told reporters here after a high-level meeting of party leaders.

"Merit and performance should be the yardstick, and in no way posts should be shared between various factions," he said.

Elections would be held Aug 10 to elect leaders in the 21,458 booth committees in the state.

"All Congress leaders, including the chief minister, ministers and senior party leaders, should see that they take part in their respective booth committees," he said.

The party should ready itself to face the local bodies polls scheduled for next year, he added.

"This revamp to rejuvenate the party was one of the important decisions taken at the post-Lok Sabha election analysis, as our party needs to be strengthened at the lowest levels," Sudheeran said.

Elections for block and mandalam (division) level committees will be held Aug 20, and the 14 district committees will be elected Aug 30.