The Hindu : Kerala News : Chandy trying for a tie-up with BJP: Karunakaran

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Friday, May 20, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Chandy trying for a tie-up with BJP: Karunakaran

Staff Reporter

`Talks with the BJP leaders were held in Kozhikode recently'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Congress (Indira) leader K. Karunakaran has alleged that the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, was trying to forge an alliance with the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly byelections from Koothuparamba and Azhikode in Kannur.

Inaugurating the State committee office of the National Congress (Indira) in a rented building, near the PMG junction in the capital, on Thursday, Mr. Karunakaran said the Chief Minister had held the talks with the BJP leaders in Kozhikode recently. Talks were held with them in other places also.

He said the Azhikode and Koothuparamba byelections would not be a cakewalk for the Chief Minister and the ruling UDF, as both constituencies were the sitting seats of the CPI(M). The Congress would become a "big zero" after the elections to the local bodies and the Assembly.

Asserting that his party is the real Congress, the National Congress (Indira) leader said the Congress in the State would have the same fate of the Congress led by Morarji Desai and Nijalingappa.

Mr. Karunakaran challenged the Chief Minister to seek byelection in the constituencies of seven legislators who crossed over to the Congress from his faction.

He said the party was not ready to forgo the "National Congress" and "Indira" from its name as the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, who worked for the welfare of the downtrodden, minority, women and other weaker sections, still gave inspiration to dedicated Congress workers in the country.

Presiding over the function, the National Congress (Indira) president, K. Muraleedharan, said the results of the forthcoming local bodies and Assembly elections in the State would prove which was the real Congress. They would also clear the doubts of those in New Delhi, which was the real Congress, he said.

"We do not have Ministers, money nor influential persons with us. But, we have the support of the dedicated Congress workers. We would show our strength through work."

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