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UDF partners to discuss crisis in Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DEC. 9. The UDF constituents other than the Congress will hold consultations among themselves in the coming days to give shape to their stand on the infighting in the Congress and the consequent problems. The Congress high command has decided to elicit the opinions of the constituents on the squabbles that have ``affected the functioning of the Government''.

Though every constituent is saying that it will not like to interfere in the internal affairs of the Congress, this will be an opportunity for them to influence the efforts of the high command indirectly to solve the problems.

The UDF convener, Oommen Chandy, told presspersons here on his return from New Delhi that the high command would be taking the constituents into confidence. ``This has always been the style of the high command. I understand that the high command wishes to learn about their thinking and opinions.''

Mr. Chandy said he hoped that the stand of the high command would be different from the one it took after the Rajya Sabha elections when the Karunakaran faction voted against the official candidate of the party. He expected a decision that would help maintain discipline in the party.

The talks are expected to resume on Thursday when the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, and others would return to Delhi. The Minister for Water Resources, T. M. Jacob, announced here that the leaders of the constituents would hold consultations on evolving a consensus after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

However, the Indian Union Muslim League leader, E. Ahmed, and the RSP (B) leader, Babu Divakaran, have already conveyed their views to the high command. The CMP leader, M.V. Raghavan, left for Delhi today on official business. He will be meeting Congress leaders in Delhi. So far, no constituent has demanded a leadership change in the State, though a section of the Muslim League is in favour of a change.

Meanwhile, the Karunakaran faction has lowered its ante stating that it did not propose to split the party or form a new government. The spokesman of the faction, Rajmohan Unnithan, told mediapersons that its only demand was leadership change.

The Karunakaran camp is happy over the statement of L. P. Shahi, chairman of the three-member panel set up to look into acts of indiscipline by State leaders in the Ernakulam Lok Sabha by-election, that all groups had breached party discipline.

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