The Hindu : Forgive, but don't forget

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Monday, May 05, 2003

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Forgive, but don't forget

THE DECISION OF the Congress high command to drop disciplinary action against the rebels in Kerala led by the former Chief Minister, K. Karunakaran, seems to be the result of a pragmatic approach to the faction-ridden affairs of the party in the State. After having secured the victory of the official candidate in the recent Rajya Sabha election, the high command could have acted tough against the 20-odd MLAs still owing allegiance to Mr. Karunakaran. But the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, appears to have factored in the long-term interests of the party in choosing to let off the MLAs with a warning. Although there would have been no immediate danger to the Antony Government even if all the rebel MLAs deserted the party, the Congress leadership wanted to use the opportunity of acting from a position of strength to make a call for unity. Any attempt to punish the dissident MLAs, who had defied the high command and voted for the rebel candidate in the Rajya Sabha poll, would only have precipitated the crisis in the Kerala unit of the party. With the dissidence now kept down to controllable levels, there was nothing to be gained from forcing the hand of Mr. Karunakaran. However, credit is also due to the Kerala Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, who pleaded for leniency in dealing with the supporters of Mr. Karunakaran, his arch-rival in the party. Obviously, he too saw no point in paving the way for a split. Especially since the prime objective of holding out against the factional pressures from Mr. Karunakaran had already been achieved.

Also, by divesting Ambika Soni of her charge of Kerala in the organisational reshuffle, the high command sent a message of reconciliation to the Karunakaran loyalists. Ms. Soni did not endear herself to the dissident group by her handling of the crisis prior to the Rajya Sabha poll. Although the tough attitude adopted by her was partly necessitated by the crisis period, in the present phase, when the emphasis is on reconciliation, Ms. Soni would have been a liability in Kerala. With Ahamad Patel being given charge of the State, the dissidents have the chance to make a fresh beginning and rebuild bridges with the AICC. The high command also spared the KPCC president, K. Muralidharan, the son of Mr. Karunakaran. Although Mr. Muralidharan did not openly flout the high command's directives, there were indications that he was torn between loyalty to his father and the need to maintain unity in the ranks. Not surprisingly, Mr. Muralidharan was asked to rise above factional pressures "no matter how strong they may be". The high command was adopting a definite strategy in dealing with the dissidents. It will do what it must to quell open defiance of the leadership. Nothing less, but also, more importantly, nothing more than what it must.

Obviously, at the end of the crisis, the rebels have a lot to reflect upon. Many of them owe their political career to Mr. Karunakaran, and there is a binding factional loyalty. But, going by the current round of brinkmanship played out by Mr. Karunakaran, there is a case for the faction exerting pressure from within. The rebel leader would serve not only the party's, but also his faction's cause better by curbing the sense for misadventure fuelled by petty personal rivalries. As for the party high command, which handled the crisis with both firmness and understanding, this is no time for complacency. Having done the right thing by forgiving the dissidents, it should not forget that the factional differences in the State unit have only been papered over. If serious efforts are not made to address the issue of factionalism, keeping in mind the past experience, it would only be a matter of time before Mr. Karunakaran comes up with another grievance. And next time, the options would be fewer.

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