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Panel to work out Congress strategies: KPCC chief

Special Correspondent

Says a mature decision will be taken on DIC party issue

KOCHI: The KPCC plenary session has authorised a four-member committee comprising Congress Working Committee member A. K. Antony, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and Union Minister Vayalar Ravi to work out the party's election strategies, including the relation with the Karunakaran party.

At a press conference at the conclusion of the KPCC's five-day grand conference, Mr. Chennithala said the four-member team would discuss and finalise a practical election strategy to be submitted to the High Command.

He said the basic concept that had emerged from the plenary session was that all democratic forces should come together. The leadership had been able to evaluate the sentiments of party workers during the last few days, especially in relation to the ties with the DIC(K). "We will take a sagacious and matured decision on this," Mr. Chennithala said.

He said the party would start the candidate selection process as soon as the seat-sharing talks with the UDF partners were over. "The KPCC has asked the respective DCCs to submit their opinion about candidates. Besides, candidates who want to contest the election should submit their application to the KPCC. There will be no fee for the application. An election committee will soon be constituted after due consultation with the High Command," he said.

The winning chances of candidates would be the main criteria for their selection. However, due importance would be given to fresh faces, youth and women, Mr. Chennithala said.

He said that the five-day session had put the party on an election mode as the deliberations had provided a sense of direction and purpose to the workers. Mr. Chennithala said the KPCC's style of functioning would be to consult party workers before taking a decision.

In reply to a question, he maintained that the session had cleared all ambiguity about his party's stand on the DIC(K) issue.

"We are prepared to give all due respect and recognition to all Congressmen who are like-minded and accept the leadership of Sonia Gandhi," he said.

Mr. Chennithala said he fully shared Mr. Chandy's view that a constituent in the UDF should also be willing to accept Ms. Gandhi's leadership.

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