The Hindu : Only my candidates will win: Karunakaran

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Only my candidates will win: Karunakaran

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR, FEB 13. The senior Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, has said that the problems in the State unit of the Congress are yet to be over.

Mr. Karunakaran told presspersons here today that the removal of the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, from the post was the first and foremost step in solving the problems.

``The solutions formulated by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) are temporary and these will not help the Congress or the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the long run. Mr. Antony should apologise for his remark against minorities. His rule has created an anti-Congress sentiment among the public,'' he said.

Mr. Karunakaran, however, added that he would not raise the issue of change of leadership till the Lok Sabha elections were over.

Asked when he would meet the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, he said he was not sure. ``I don't see the possibility as long as these problems remain.''

Speaking about the UDF's prospects in the Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Karunakaran said that the Congress candidates nominated by him would win. ``The rest will lose.''

The senior leader said that K. Muraleedharan's induction into the Cabinet was neither good nor bad for the party. ``What he (Mr. Muraleedharan) does will not affect us (`I' group).''

Countering P. C. Chacko's claim for the Mukundapuram seat, Mr. Karunakaran replied that Mr. Chacko had no right to represent the `I' group.

Asked whether the Cabinet reshuffle was Mr. Antony's ploy to create disunity within the `I' group, Mr. Karunakaran said it seemed so. ``Those who think of having divided my family are in a fool's paradise,'' he added. The senior leader said he had not nominated anyone as Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president. ``P. P. Thankachan's name was heard. But no action has been taken yet. Mr. Antony is responsible for creating a situation in the Congress where a Muslim League leader is ready to decide who shall be the next KPCC president.''

Responding to the reported statement by the UDF convener, Oommen Chandy, that the party high command should have initiated disciplinary action against a few, Mr. Karunakaran said Mr. Chandy's remark itself was a breach of discipline.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala