State Congress leaders patch up over Kerala liquor policy

The News Minute | January 7, 2015 | 5.15 pm ISTKerala will now implement total prohibition in the state in 10 years, state Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said Wednesday, hinting that a consensus has been reached within the party over the new liquor policy.After a marathon five-hour discussion within the Congress party late Tuesday, it was decided that hard liquor will not be served in the 418 bars now closed."The decision not to serve hard liquor in the earlier closed down 418 bars is a welcome decision as the Kerala government has decided to work towards total prohibition in 10 years from now," Sudheeran said."...It has been decided to settle the difference of opinion and the principal agenda of our party is to work together in the upcoming local bodies elections," said Sudheeran.State congress chief Sudheeran and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy the two senior leaders of the party, were at loggerheads over the liquor policy after the Chandy government got the nod from its allies to tweak the policy.Sudheeran led a small group of party leaders, and was adamant that the 418 bars closed since this fiscal should remain closed and they should not be given beer or wine licence.The Chandy government announced the changes in the policy last month, leaving Sudheeran miffed.Sudheeran also said that external forces were deciding the agenda of the government and there was no possibility of the Chandy government retaining power in the 2016 assembly polls.Facing a volley of question over his decision to mellow down, Sudheeran Wednesday said all old issues were over as of now.IANS