The Hindu : Kerala News : Withdraw suspensions: Karunakaran

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Sunday, Mar 13, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Withdraw suspensions: Karunakaran

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 12. The senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran today demanded the withdrawal of suspension notices issued against many leaders of his faction before the conduct of organisational elections.

Addressing the second of his three regional rallies here today, Mr. Karunakaran adopted the twin-strategy of attacking the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy. He warned against conducting organisational elections without withdrawing the suspension notices. He alleged that the Chandy Government was steeped in corruption and said the `I' group would continue its struggle against the corrupt regime. He accused some of his close supporters who did not turn up for the rally of having ditched him. He would move ahead and would not admit them into his fold in future. "You [the party workers] are my strength. We will decide on our course of action when the time comes. Whatever may be the name, we will stand united as Congressmen," he said dropping broad hints about his future plans.

Many leaders stay away

The Karunakaran faction was able to ensure a fairly good attendance at the public meeting held after the rally, though many of his faction leaders, including the Kollam District Congress Committee (DCC) president, Sooranad Rajasekharan, the newly-appointed Kerala Tourism Development Corporation chairman, Pandalam Sudhakaran, and party MLAs stayed away from the rally and the public meeting. M.P. Gangadharan, MLA, was the only Karunakaran supporter among the legislators to attend the rally.

Another ardent Karunakaran supporter and Thiruvananthapuram DCC president, Peethambara Kurup, organised the rally and the public meeting.

Mr. Karunakaran vehemently attacked the KPCC leadership ``for its failure to ensure the participation of party leaders' in the Dandi march commemoration function that he had inaugurated in the morning. He alleged that his son and former KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, had been suspended so that he would not be able to contest the polls.

Mr. Karunakaran also referred to the statement of the Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran, accusing Mr. Chandy of corruption in a mineral sand mining project.

Addressing the rally, Mr. Muraleedharan, continuing his direct attack on Mr. Chandy, alleged that the Chief Minister had gone to Delhi on the eve of the Railway Budget to seek disciplinary action against him, instead of lobbying for railway projects for the State.

MLAs to meet Sonia

The legislators owing allegiance to Mr. Karunakaran have sought an appointment with the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, to present their grievances against the Chief Minister and the KPCC leadership.

The MLAs will leave for Delhi as soon as Ms. Gandhi gives an appointment.

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