The Hindu : Kerala News : Karunakaran rejects Patel's directive

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Sunday, Mar 06, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Karunakaran rejects Patel's directive

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH. 5. Factionalism in the Congress party in the State took a new turn with the senior Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, summarily rejecting the AICC general Secretary, Ahmed Patel's directive to cancel his faction's proposed rallies to be held later this month.

The former KPCC president and Mr. Karunakaran's son, K. Muraleedharan, also took a belligerent position endorsing his father's position, besides stating that he proposed to continue his criticism of the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, who, he alleged, was trying to hijack the party and the Government.

Mr. Karunakaran did not lose time in coming out with his assertive response less than an hour after the KPCC general secretary, Kodikunnil Suresh, handed over Mr. Patel's letter to Mr. Muraleedharan this morning asking him to drop the rally plans. The letter was sent through the KPCC president, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, who entrusted Mr. Suresh the task of delivering it to Mr. Muraleedharan at his residence.

No change in plans

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Karunakaran ruled out the question of cancelling the rally. He took the full responsibility of having called the rallies, which, he averred, were intended to strengthen the party by ushering in an elected PCC leadership. "Mr. Muraleedharan has nothing to do with the convening of the rallies. The decision was taken by a leadership meeting of the party workers. If any one has any misconception that the rallies would be called off, I wish to inform them that the rallies would take place at the appointed time and venues," Mr. Karunakaran said.

The Karunakaran faction has called for three regional rallies in Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram on March 9, 12 and 21. The KPCC meeting the other day had said that organising parallel rallies would attract disciplinary action. Following this, the KPCC president, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, submitted a detailed report on the factional tussle. The Chief Minister has also been insisting on firm action against Mr. Karunakaran's factional moves. Mr. Patel's missive came on the heels of Mr. Pillai's report.

Discrimination

Mr. Karunakaran raised two major points at his press conference. He insisted that the rallies were meant to strengthen the party and ensure equal opportunities to all Congress workers. He took strong exception to the total exclusion of his faction from party and Government affairs. "This discrimination against a section of the Congress workers should end. All are equal in the party," Mr. Karunakaran said.

He said the KPCC did not have the authority to ban rallies called by party workers.

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