Cong losing mass base in Kerala due to infighting: Antony

Kochi, Aug 20 (PTI) Lamenting that Congress is losing itsmass base in Kerala due to infighting, senior party leader A KAntony today batted for a generational shift in the leadershipof the party and said collective efforts are needed to bringback those who keep away from the organisation. The former Chief Minister also warned against any move bythe BJP and CPI(M) to wean away Congress workers and itsalliance partners in their bid to weaken the Congress party. "Generational changes (in the party leadership) areneeded. There is a leakage in our mass base. We shouldunderstand this. Efforts should be made to bring back thosewho keep away from the party," he said, calling on partyleaders to stop infighting and work to bring back thoseworkers who keep away from Congress. Antony, while addressing the "Rajiv Gandhi SadbhavanaSangamam" organised by KPCC on his 72nd birth anniversary,said if Congress continues to remain as a camp of peoplefighting each other, there is hardly any chance for the returnof the people who are keeping away from the party. "We should give them hope. Only a photo session of aCongress leadership in the state won’t help save Congress." "I don’t have faith in it," the former Defence Ministersaid in a reference to infighting among the top Congressleadership in Kerala even after the humiliating defeat of theparty-led UDF in the Assembly polls in May this year. Noting that BJP is trying for a Congress-free India andCommunists works for disintegration of UDF in the state,Antony said the Congress leadership should recognise thisdanger and take efforts to save the party from destruction. Later speaking to reporters, Antony said he did not meanthat the entire leadership should go, but instead there shouldbe more representation for youth and women in the partyleadership. PTI TGB APRDV