VD Satheesan asked me to stay at home, says expelled Congress leader Simi Rosebell John

Kochi: Simi Rosebell John, who was expelled from the Congress party on Sunday following her alleged ‘derogatory remarks’ against women leaders of Congress, has sharply criticised opposition leader VD Satheesan. Simi alleged that Satheesan had sidelined her to promote KPCC General Secretary Deepthi Mary Varghese to a higher position within the state party organisation. She also accused Satheesan of being arrogant and dismissive.

Simi claimed that V D Satheesan should prove the conspiracy she is alleged to have with the CPM. She expressed frustration over missed opportunities and stated that the KPCC president admitted to being powerless to change the situation. Despite support from various district leaders, Simi accused Satheesan of unfairly advancing Deepthi Mary Varghese while denying opportunities to others.

Simi, who has been active in the party for 37 years, questioned the fairness of her expulsion. She suggested that the leader who filed the complaint against her has only been known in Kerala for a few years. She also suggested that she is perplexed about the justice of her removal.

“When I asked about my disqualification, I was told to stay at home. The response was arrogant and dismissive. After more than three and a half decades of working for the party, it is deeply troubling to hear such comments. Those who previously held positions alongside me are in major roles now. Both he and the Ernakulam MP have put pressure on me. There has been no justice from the KPCC President. The opposition leader has less experience than I do. I was the only woman General Secretary when K.C. Venugopal was Youth Congress President, and Satheesan was not even on the 28-member office bearers list or the district leadership at that time. It seems that everyone from that batch is being forgotten,” she said.