The Hindu : Revolt in group not to affect poll prospects: Murali

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 19, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Revolt in group not to affect poll prospects: Murali

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR, MARCH 18. The banner of revolt raised by some disgruntled members of the Congress over the selection of candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha election will not affect the party's prospects in the poll, the Electricity Minister, K. Muraleedharan, has said.

The Minister told reporters here on Thursday that the reactions of these members were purely personal. ``They kicked up a rumpus as they were denied seats. All will be quiet soon or we will calm them down,'' he said. Reacting to the allegation by the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary, Rajmohan Unnithan, that Mr. Muraleedharan had played a major role in having denied him the Kollam seat, the Electricity Minister said that unreasonable outbursts were not good for politicians. ``The tenor of Mr. Unnithan's statement can be grasped only if it is compared with the ones he made four years ago. I am told that Mr. Unnithan's outbursts had worked to his disadvantage when his name was suggested to the party high command,'' he said.

The Electricity Minister said the problems between the `I' and 'A' groups over the Thrissur Mayor's post would be solved in two days by the party leadership. ``Agreement between the groups, if any, should be honoured,'' he said.

Mr. Muraleedharan said the problems at the local bodies in the Wadakkanchery constituency would not affect the results of the by-election. Asked to comment on the statement by the senior Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, that there was an anti-UDF wave in the State, Mr. Muraleedharan said that his father's remark was misinterpreted.

``Mr. Karunakaran's intention was to goad the UDF into improving its performance,'' he said. The Electricity Minister said the issue of the anti-minority remarks by the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, was no longer relevant. ``Mr. Antony has discussed the matter with leaders of the respective communities and they are convinced about his stand,'' he said.

Speaking on the issue of members of the same family contesting elections, Mr. Muraleedharan said there was ``nothing wrong in it. Even the Left parties have siblings sharing the poll platform. Take the case of M.V. Jayarajan and Sathi Devi,'' he said.

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