The Hindu : Factional fight affects Cong. poll campaign

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Factional fight affects Cong. poll campaign

By Girish Menon

Dynu Eden, daughter of the late Ernakulam MP, George Eden, garlanding the UDF candidate, M. O. John, at Kochu Kadavanthra in Kochi on Tuesday. Ms. Eden, accompanied by her brother, Hybi Eden, was on her way to college when she accidentally met the UDF candidate who was touring the constituency. The Congress workers accompanying the candidate provided her with the garland. - Photo: Vipinchandran.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Sept. 16.

Unprecedented statement wars by rival Congress factions appear to be undermining the electioneering of the UDF-Congress candidate, M. O. John.

Never before has an election in the State witnessed this kind of acrimony between factional leaders. Almost every day, one controversy or the other keeps popping up, giving enough material to indulge in allegations and counter-allegations. The most interesting aspect is that the statement wars are continuing despite the AICC observers, Veerappa Moily and G. K. Vasan's directive to put a clamp on public airing of views till the election is over.

The current round of factionalism almost resembles the inner-party tussle of 1996, but even at that time, the leaders refrained from public statements. Almost the entire battery of senior leaders have been roped in for Mr. John's electioneering. Among those who have arrived in the State include the AICC secretary, Anil Sastri, who holds charge of Kerala, Mr. Moily and Mr. Vasan. The AICC general secretary, Ahmed Patel, is also arriving on September 18 for a two-day election tour.

The Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, would be camping in Ernakulam for four days from September 18 in what is being viewed as an all out attempt to ensure the victory of Mr. John. The Ernakulam bye-election has become a prestige issue for him and he has left no stone unturned in securing a win.

The Ministers, barring those who support Mr. Karunakaran, have been inducted for the electioneering. The MLAs representing Assembly segments in Ernakulam parliamentary seat have been given the task of overseeing electioneering in panchayats and municipalities in their respective constituencies. The fact that all the seven MLAs in the assembly segments belong to anti-Karunakaran groups has made matters a bit easier for the UDF campaign managers.

The UDF partners have adopted a lukewarm approach, and leaders belonging to some of the parties have made only a perfunctory appearance. The IUML leader and Industries Minister, P. K. Kunhalikutty, is in the forefront campaigning for the official Congress candidate.

The Karunakaran supporters have not yet started their line of campaign, though the veteran leader has sent message to his supporters regarding his position. A factional meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, after which a clearer picture of the Karunakaran faction's strategy would be available.

The Karunakaran faction has simply lapped up the controversy over the Tourism Minister, K. V. Thomas's meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon. The faction is now using the issue as a double-edged sword. Apart from making matters difficult for Mr. Thomas, who has been marked by Mr. Karunakaran for ouster from the Antony cabinet, the faction believes that the Sharon issue could have wider impact among the Muslim community in the constituency.

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