Thiruvananthapuram ,August24
DYFI state president Chinta Jerome on Monday hit back at Youth Congress president and minister O J Jeneesh over his remarks about her appointment as the organisation’s first woman chief.
In a Facebook post, Chinta welcomed the induction of a young leader into the Kerala Cabinet but cautioned Jeneesh against misusing his ministerial position. She also levelled allegations against the Youth Congress over the handling of funds collected for victims of the Wayanad disaster.
“As the Youth Congress president, your entry into the Kerala Cabinet as a young minister is welcome. However, you should not empty Kerala’s treasury in the same way your organisation allegedly diverted the Wayanad relief fund collected by deceiving poor people,” Chinta wrote.
She also expressed hope that Jeneesh would not use his ministerial office to protect his predecessor from pending cases. Her comments came shortly after the minister publicly reacted to her elevation as DYFI state president.
Jeneesh had welcomed the DYFI’s decision to appoint a woman to its top state post, describing the move as one that organisations such as the Youth Congress could emulate. However, he added a pointed criticism of Chinta’s participation in political demonstrations.
“Appointing a woman president is a welcome decision by the DYFI and can serve as a model for organisations, including the Youth Congress. But the woman president should not march through the streets raising slogans that are disgusting to hear,” Jeneesh said.
The verbal exchange has intensified the political confrontation between the youth wings of the Congress and the CPM. Chinta’s response also broadened the controversy by bringing the Wayanad relief-fund allegations and cases involving the previous Youth Congress leadership into the debate.
Neither the Youth Congress nor Jeneesh immediately issued a detailed response to the accusations made in Chinta’s Facebook post.
