Thiruvananthapuram: A day after registering his displeasure at being overlooked for the post of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief, K Sudhakaran said on Thursday that he ‘wholeheartedly accepts the decision of the high command’.Sudhakaran, who was in the forefront of the president race, was upset that the All India Congress Committee ( AICC ) did not consider his name in the final round and instead, appointed Mullappally Ramachandran as the president of the party’s Kerala unit.He had said on Wednesday that he would have to rethink whether to accept the working president post or not.However, deft political moves seemed to have cajoled him to accept the working president post offered by the high command, ensuring that the state leadership of Congress will present a united face.“I wholeheartedly accepts the decision of the high command and I exhort all party workers to work hard. The AICC’s decision is final for me,” Sudhakaran said on Thursday. He said AICC might have considered several factors before arriving at a decision and it was not possible to satisfy everyone.Sudhakaran changed his stand after discussions with several senior leaders. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, who rang up Sudhakaran in the morning, later told reporters that he was hopeful that Sudhakaran would accept the position of the working president. The senior leaders wanted Sudhakaran to play an active role in the organizational functions, especially in the wake of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.Chennithala on Thursday formally announced the name of Benny Behanan as the new UDF convener, completing the change of guard in the state unit. He said all UDF constituents agreed on Behanan’s name as a replacement for P P Thankachan.Congratulating new president Ramachandran and team, outgoing KPCC president M M Hassan said he was leaving the office with complete satisfaction. “I was able to maintain peace and unity in the party. By organizing Janamochana Yatra and booth-level family gatherings, I strengthened the party at the grassroots. I hope the new leadership can build on the sense of unity in the party,” said Hassan adding that he would continue to engage actively in party work.Former chief minister Oommen Chandy asked all Congress workers to accept the high command’s decision. “Ramachandran ‘s team is capable to lead Congress in the state. Working presidents were appointed in the state in the same way which has been followed in other states,” said Chandy.Ramachandran said his top priority will be to inspire the party workers at grassroot-level. The AICC leaders will meet the newly appointed leaders in New Delhi on Saturday

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