The Hindu : Kerala News : Senior leaders should be brought back to Congress: Karunakaran

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 06, 2008
ePaper

Kerala

Kerala

Senior leaders should be brought back to Congress: Karunakaran

Believes involvement of Rahul Gandhi and other youth leaders will benefit party

Thiruvananthapuram: Back in the Congress after a three-year break, veteran leader K. Karunakaran feels that the NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders who had left the party should be brought back to face a resurgent BJP.

“I am the senior most Congressman. My firm view is that not only me, but senior leaders like Mr. Pawar should be brought back. It is my personal opinion and no discussion has begun in that direction,” the 89-year-old leader said in an interview to PTI. Mr. Karunakaran, who returned to the party last week, felt that the involvement of Rahul Gandhi and other youth leaders would immensely benefit the party.

“The presence of a leader like Rahul Gandhi would greatly help the Congress. The services of the youth are essential. At the same time the experience of senior leaders is also crucial,” he said.

With an eye on the general elections slated for 2009, Mr. Karunakaran wanted the party to put behind the electoral reverses in states like Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand.

“There is no need to be disappointed about certain recent victories scored by the BJP as that party’s strength lies only in certain pockets. This threat could be surmounted by strengthening the Congress with leaders and workers meeting people at the grass-root level,” he said.

Following differences with party leadership Mr. Karunakaran along with his son and now NCP State President K. Muraleedharan had left Congress in May 2005 and floated the Democratic Indira Congress which later merged with the NCP in the State.

Asked about the parting of ways with Mr. Muraleedharan, the veteran leader made it known that he wanted his son back in Congress.

“I am always optimistic that my son too will choose the right path. He is a mature leader. He has proved his abilities and leadership qualities. He may have his own reason to keep away,” he said.

On being pointed out about Mr. Muraleedharan’s refrain that his father had “politically deceived” him, Mr. Karunakaran said “you better put this question to him. As to my conscience, I have not done that.”

Mr. Karunakaran said he plans to hold a public meeting as part of his “home-coming” next month and wishes to have AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi as the chief guest.

On the immediate impact of his return to the Congress, Mr. Karunakaran said strengthening the party in the State was top on his agenda for which discussions would be held with the party leaders when he visits the KPCC headquarters here on January 7 .

On heartburns among a section in the State Congress about his return, he said, “the decision has been accepted sincerely by the entire party in the State.”

“There could be some discordant note from certain quarters. But, by and large, the Congress workers are happy about the development,” he said. — PTI

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

Kerala