Kerala   

Karunakaran returns to Congress, after 32 months

NEW DELHI: Veteran politician and the former Chief Minister of Kerala K. Karunakaran returned to the Congress on Sunday evening, exactly two years and eight months after leaving the party fold in protest against the leadership at national and State levels.

A formal announcement is likely to be made on Monday at the party’s routine briefing, party in-charge of Kerala Mohsina Kidwai said after Mr. Karunakaran met Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Briefing mediapersons after his meeting with Ms. Gandhi and later Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the 89-year-old leader said his return was “unconditional” and was aimed at strengthening the Congress as it was the only party that could address the aspirations of the entire nation. Stating that words failed him while expressing gratitude to Ms. Gandhi for the reception he got at her 10 Janpath residence, Mr. Karunakaran said of the Congress president: “She was so kind; it was a very warm welcome.”

Asked whether Ms. Gandhi had agreed to attend the merger conference he has been proposing to signal his return to the rank and file of the Congress in Kerala, Mr. Karunakaran said it had not been discussed at the meeting.

According to Ms. Kidwai, it was for Mr. Karunakaran to decide on such a meeting in consultation with the State unit of the party. As for representation from the Central leadership, it would be decided as and when the details were finalised.

Asked about opposition from sections in the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee to the proposed merger conference, Mr. Karunakaran first said the media was ill-informed, but then suggested that anyone who opposed it would be going against the party line. On whether the Congress high command had given him any assurance vis-À-vis rehabilitating his loyalists, Mr. Karunakaran said, “our return is unconditional; we haven’t returned for any position; we only want to serve the Congress which means serve the country.”

Offering his services to the Congress, Mr. Karunakaran said it was for the party leadership to define a role for him and his loyalists.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Karunakaran returns to Congress, after 32 months
Factionalism will end: Pinarayi
In good company
Keeping track of babies’ growth
Isaac sees challenge to reforms
‘Sivagiri should remain non-controversial’
Will vigil muzzle legitimate voices?
Bring back the golden days of silver screen PEOPLESPEAK
Collector deploys special squad at Sabarimala
Taking stock
Leading from the front
CAMPUS NOTES
SCERT plans social interpretation of lessons
Makaravilakku festival from today
Path of devotion
With devotion
Today at Sabarimala
Juicy news
VS and Ministers reach Sabarimala
Cheating customers

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu