The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : V.C. Kabeer resigns as MLA; to join Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 12, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

V.C. Kabeer resigns as MLA; to join Congress

Special Correspondent

Decides to join Congress

WELCOME BACK: V. C. Kabeer, who resigned his position as MLA on Thursday after deciding to leave the Congress(S) and the LDF, gets a warm hug from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Mr. Kabeer plans to join the Congress, in which he began his political ca reer years ago. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress (S) MLA V C Kabeer on Thursday submitted his resignation from the State Assembly in preparation to his joining the Congress.

Announcing his resignation at a press conference here, Mr. Kabeer said he had decided to join the Indian National Congress, as he did not see a future for the Congress (S). He had submitted his resignation as he had been elected on the LDF platform and, therefore, did not want to betray the LDF. He said his joining the Congress party was unconditional. He did not have any difference with the UDF leadership.

He said he had informed Congress (S) president Ramachandran Kadannapally about his decision. He had resigned from the primary membership of the Congress (S) and from the post of the Congress (S) legislature party leader. In his resignation letter to Mr. Kadannapally, Mr. Kabeer pointed out that he was resigning, as he did not see a future for the Congress (S).

It is virtually a home-coming for Mr. Kabeer, who represents the Ottapalam Assembly seat. He was Minister for Health in the Nayanar Government from 2000-2001. He was one of the few former `A' group leaders who did not rejoin the parent party in 1982. Along with Mr. A. C. Shanmughadas and others, he struck a different political path by sticking to the LDF, seeing the party through the best and worst of times. He, however, parted ways with Mr. Shanmughadas when the latter chose to take the Congress (S).

He won from the Ottapalam seat in 1996 and 2001, setting his own political identity, with credibility and decorum being its axis. He has set an example by quitting his seat before deciding to shift his camp. True to his nature, he observed all political etiquette before announcing his resignation, leaving behind no rancour.

He informed the LDF leadership of the imperatives of joining the Congress party. He held discussions with the KPCC president, Ramesh Chennithala. Mr. Kabeer said that he, along with his supporters, would join the party at a function in Kottayam on August 13.

Mr. Kabeer could in a way be the first to set a trend of smaller groups joining larger parties. On August 21, the Kerala Congress (Jacob) would merge with the National Congress (I) of K. Karunakaran, while the Kerala Congress (B) led by the former Minister R. Balakrishna Pillai is in the process of negotiating an entry into the LDF via the Janata Dal (S), a constituent of the Opposition front.

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