KPCC poised to take tough line on discipline, without closing door on reconciliation between opposing parties, in fracas involving MLA Haridas
KPCC enquiry commission head M M Hassan promises full representation for the conflicting party workers as the hearing begins at the KPCC office. The episode had also brought to the fore larger questions regarding the conduct and responsibilities of MLAs that come with parliamentary privilege.
On September 6, 2026, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) seemed inclined to adopt a stricter approach toward organizational discipline following the heated altercation between Congress legislator Ramya Haridas and party workers in Chiryankeezhu on September 4, 2026. The incident had caused considerable damage to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government's reputation.
The ex-KPCC president, M.M. Hassan, led a three-member committee probing the incident. He summoned the concerned parties for a preliminary hearing at the party's state headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, assuring full representation for all involved. The committee's objective was to ensure fairness and impartiality in the inquiry process.
The episode also highlighted larger concerns about the conduct and responsibilities of MLAs and their parliamentary privilege. Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who once headed the KPCC's disciplinary committee, expressed the need to consider the issues at hand while maintaining his constitutional office and recusal from earlier political responsibilities.
Radhakrishnan mentioned that the Speaker's Office could potentially refer such incidents to the Kerala Assembly's Privileges Committee. An official in the former Speaker's office revealed that the assault on an MLA while performing their democratic duties could be considered a significant breach of privilege and a contempt of the House.
A Congress insider informed that the enquiry commission would have to navigate a delicate balance between alleviating punishment and avoiding additional intra-party strife, including the potential consequences for Haridas, who is a KPCC vice-president and member of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC). The commission would have to weigh the party worker's seniority, organizational record, and expressions of contrition to mitigate the punitive process and strive for reconciliation based on consensus.
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