Former CPI(M) MLA Aisha Potty joins Congress in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Senior CPI(M) leader Aisha Potty on Tuesday joined the opposition Congress, ending her more than a decade-long association with the Left party.
Potty, who represented the Kottarakkara Assembly constituency for three consecutive terms, formally took Congress membership after arriving at the venue of a day-and-night protest organised by the party in front of the Lok Bhavan here.
The move came as a surprise as Potty had not been active in electoral politics for the past few years.
Her entry into the Congress assumed added significance as it came hours after the Leader of the Opposition hinted at "political surprises" ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Addressing Congress workers in the presence of senior leaders, including K C Venugopal, V D Satheesan, and Sunny Joseph, Potty said she did not wish to make any negative remarks about the CPI(M).
A lawyer by profession, she said she had always engaged with people irrespective of religion, caste or political affiliation and would continue to do so.
Speaking to reporters later, Potty said she "felt neglected within the CPI(M) and was compelled to quit the party as she found it difficult to align with several of its positions."
She said the party was no longer the same as when she had joined it years ago, though she maintained that she had no grievance against its cadres.
Potty said she was prepared to "face criticism and cyberbullying" following her decision and acknowledged that her move might cause distress to her comrades in the CPI(M).
She added that the party’s problems lay with a few decision-makers and said she did not wish to blame anyone.
"They may call me a traitor, but I will always stand with the people," she said.
Responding to remarks by a senior Congress leader that she would contest the next Assembly elections from Kottarakkara, Potty said she had no information about any such decision and asserted that she was not "power-hungry".
Satheesan and other Congress leaders welcomed Potty’s entry into the party, saying major changes were underway in the Congress following the recent civic polls.
Potty had been keeping a distance from the CPI(M) for some time, leading to speculation about a possible switch to the Congress ahead of the elections.
Her participation in public events, including a recent memorial programme for former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy organised by local Congress leaders, had further fuelled speculation, though she had earlier denied such reports.
Potty entered the Kerala Assembly from Kottarakkara in 2006 by defeating Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai. She increased her winning margin in the 2011 elections and registered a decisive victory in 2016 with a margin of over 40,000 votes.
Meanwhile, Potty’s decision drew sharp reactions from senior CPI(M) leader and former minister J Mercykutty Amma, who said there was no situation that warranted her exit from the party.
Mercykutty Amma said the CPI(M) had given Potty all opportunities, including being elected three times as an MLA and serving as district panchayat president.
She alleged that the move reflected "a craving for positions and status", adding that the Left party was capable of "confronting such betrayals."
"If the aim is to stand with all people, how can one go to the UDF?" she asked.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Flip-flop on COP: Cong's dig at govt on withdrawing bid to host COP33
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Thursday attacked the Centre over India withdrawing its bid to host the COP33 climate summit in 2028, and said it reflects the Modi government's true commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement both in letter and spirit.
The opposition party said the decision also calls into question the government's true commitment to take on more ambitious carbon mitigation goals in the short and medium term.
Congress general secretary and former environment minister Jairam Ramesh recalled that on December 1, 2023, the prime minister had announced grandly in Dubai that India would be hosting the annual UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) in India in late 2028.
"Clearly the intention was to milk the global gathering for whatever it is worth in the months before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections like Mr. Modi did by having the G20 Summit in New Delhi a few months before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," Ramesh said on X.
"Unexpectedly last night, it was announced that India will not be hosting the high-profile 2028 Conference. No reasons have been given for this sudden decision. But it does reflect on the Modi Govt's true commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement both in letter and spirit," the Congress general in-charge communications said.
It also calls into question the Modi government's true commitment to take on more ambitious carbon mitigation goals in the short and medium term, Ramesh said.
By 2028, the seventh assessment report of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) may get published and this could put greater pressure on India as the Chair of the 2028 Conference to forge a new consensus that would undoubtedly involve a scaling up of ambitions not just for a distant future, he said.
"Incidentally, do we recall what the PM had told a group of children some years ago on his view of climate change? He had remarked that 'people have changed, climate has not.' Bizarre!" Ramesh said.
He slammed the government's "flip-flop" on hosting the conference.
Ramesh had on Wednesday night said that he was "surprised" at the development.
"I am very surprised. It was high on the PM's agenda especially since 2029 will be the year of Lok Sabha polls. So atmospherics could have (been) created," he had said.
India has withdrawn its offer to host the United Nations annual climate Conference Of the Parties (COP33) in 2028, according to sources.
During his address at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, Prime Minister Modi had proposed India as the host country for COP33. Usually, the venue for a COP edition is decided two years in advance.
Sources confirmed that the decision was officially communicated to the authorities concerned earlier this week that India is withdrawing its bid to host COP 33. They, however, did not state any specific reason behind the government's decision.
