THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran’s strong stand on the liquor policy does not have many takers in the Congress party, both in the ‘I’ and ‘A’ factions.

While those opposed to him have pressed the Congress high command to restrain him, his confidants say that the leaders who want to tweak the bar policy are promoting bar owners.

Since the UDF meeting on Monday, the relations between the party and the government have been strained.

Many leaders have wondered how long Mr Sudheeran can behave like an autocrat without the support of his colleagues. But a senior aide of Mr Sudheeran alleged that those seeking a change in the liquor policy had vested interests.

“Since Sudheeran is firm in his stand, there will not be any change in the liquor policy,” he told DC. The AICC is aware that the equations between the party and the government have changed.

Some leaders say that Mr Sudheeran should have waited for some more time since Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had visited the leaders only recently. “We feel that Sudheeran acted hastily.

The issue of prohibition could have been included in the manifesto committee for the next Assembly elections and then he could have implemented it,” said an AICC leader.