The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Karunakaran’s timing rattles Congress

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Sunday, Nov 04, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Karunakaran’s timing rattles Congress

Girish Menon

State leadership unflinching in opposition to his return

KPCC chief says it is Sonia Gandhi’s prerogative
NCP leadership too is in a spot

Thiruvananthapuram: The possible return of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader K. Karunakaran appears to be dominating all discussions in the Congress.

The State leadership, under Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala, has sent unambiguous messages to the party High Command about their apprehensions over the move to bring Mr. Karunakaran back to the party.

Though there is speculation that the All-India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Kerala, Mohsina Kidwai, is likely to discuss his return with party men, Mr. Chennithala, while speaking at the Ernakulam District Congress Committee leadership meeting in Kochi, set the agenda for her and virtually blocked any debate on the issue by stating that a decision on his return was the prerogative of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Karunakaran had recently indicated his desire to return to the Congress without any precondition in the larger interests of the country.

He said the Congress was the only party that could provide a stable government and that he was willing to join forces with it to achieve this objective. It was reported that during his visit to Delhi, he had made overtures to the High Command, but in vain.

Mr. Chennithala and Mr. Chandy’s stand that it was for the High Command to take a decision has, in fact, made matters a bit difficult for Mr. Karunakaran. The High Command is unlikely to take any decision without the clearance of the State leadership. Mr. Chandy has been consistent in his opposition to Mr. Karunakaran.

Even in his reactions while speaking to the press in Kollam on Saturday, he did not conceal it. He said the State leadership had its own firm views and would not hesitate to express it if the High Command sought it.

However, the State leadership cannot shut its eyes on certain aspects that have prompted the current “bring-back” Karunakaran campaign. Those disgruntled with the leadership consider him a rallying point. Even if Mr. Karunakaran were to return without any conditions, he can still prove to be a headache for those handling party affairs.

Grassroots presence

The State leadership cannot shut its eyes to the grassroots presence that Mr. Karunakaran and his men have despite the erosion of trusted lieutenants and being sidelined in Kerala’s bipolar coalition politics. The Congress is weak in certain parts of the State, such as the Malabar region. With a leadership dominated by leaders from south Kerala, Mr. Karunakaran’s return can shore up its prospects in constituencies between Ernakulam and Kasaragod, a section in the party says.

Differing stands

Mr. Karunakaran’s statement on his return appeared to have put the NCP leadership in a spot, giving the impression that he differed with his son, K. Muraleedharan. However, the senior NCP leader T.P. Peethambaran and Mr. Muraleedharan, State president of the party, said they did not hold the view that Mr. Karunakaran would return.

On Mr. Karunakaran’s part, he has proved once again that he could rattle the Congress leadership, going by the tone and tenor of the discussions. His sentimental statement about his desire to return was timed well enough when the Congress was observing Indira Gandhi’s death anniversary. Her birth anniversary falls on November 19. The statement also came at a time when the affairs of the Congress were sailing smooth, with the party charting out several agitations against the Left Democratic Front government. Mr. Karunakaran’s return, it seems, will prove to be a distraction for the Congress from its agitations.

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