The Hindu : Decisions after meeting Sonia: Murali

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Decisions after meeting Sonia: Murali

By Our Staff Reporter

KASARAGOD APRIL. 7. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, K. Muraleedharan, has said that he is leaving for New Delhi tomorrow and ``all decisions, including disciplinary action against leaders, would be taken in consultation with the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi.''

Mr. Muraleedharan, who had a one-and-a-half-hour closed-door discussion with the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, on the crisis in the party over the nominees for the Rajya Sabha elections, at the Government Guest House here today, said the signatories to Kodoth Govindan Nair's nomination include AICC members and any disciplinary action against them would require the concurrence of the AICC president.

With the deadline for the withdrawal of nominations set to end at 3 p.m. today, there was an air of optimism that the talks would help solve the crisis in the party. Though the AICC general secretary, Vayalar Ravi, and the AICC secretary, Ramesh Chennithala, were present there, they were not present at the discussions.

Mr. Muraleedharan told waiting presspersons that since there are four candidates and only three seats, there ought to be an election. But as far as the AICC and the KPCC are concerned, the official candidates are Mr. Ravi and Thennala Balakrishna Pillai. The candidature of Mr. Govindan Nair is not an official one.

Asked whether he would press for his resignation as KPCC president (as tendered by him last week), Mr. Muraleedharan said he would have an open talk with Ms. Gandhi on all matters.

To a question whether any formula has been arrived at in his discussions with Mr. Antony, Mr. Muraleedharan said that ``if at all there is one, I do not wish to disclose it before the media.''

Regarding reports of resignations submitted by a few DCC members here (that six members of the Kasaragod DCC had faxed their resignation to the KPCC office), Mr. Muraleedharan said he got no resignation letter from anyone till then.

Asked about the stand of the Chief Minister, the KPCC chief said both of them stuck to their stand that the AICC decision would be implemented. However, he added that he had personal differences of opinion with the Chief Minister and everything was discussed in depth and in detail. There is no hurry for any hasty action against any leader. There is time till April 14 to work out a solution, he said.

Asked whether one of the three candidates would voluntarily abstain from the election, as the only possible solution to break the tie, Mr. Muraleedharan said the modalities for the elections would be finalised in consultation with the AICC president.

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