Antony plays down Karunakaran's views

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 15. The Congress(I) Working Committee member and Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Mr. A. K. Antony, has said that he is inclined to take a sportive view about the senior Congress(I) leader, Mr. K. Karunakaran's statement about a change in the UDF leadership.

``There is nothing wrong in Mr. Karunakaran openly stating his views about the functioning of the UDF. He is one of the most senior political leaders in the country. I consider his statement as an advice since he wishes to see the UDF back in power. This is not the first time that a senior leader has openly expressed his opinion. He has the right to do so,'' Mr. Antony said in a dismissive tone while addressing a `meet-the- press' programme organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club here on Monday.

Asked about Mr. Karunakaran's statement that the leadership would be changed in time for the Assembly elections, Mr. Antony said the party would take a decision at the appropriate time, if necessary, on the issue and there would be no controversy about it. Mr. Antony admitted that the UDF leadership was not seen to be effective, but attributed it to various reasons, including the problems in the Congress(I). He said the feeling that the UDF was not strong had gained currency because it had refused to conform to the traditionally accepted yardstick for gauging the functioning of an Opposition coalition. ``We are now taking corrective steps and would settle problems within the party and the UDF,'' he added.

Even while accepting that Mr. K. Muraleedharan was a capable leader of note, Mr. Antony maintained that the party had not taken any decision on the KPCC(I) president issue. ``There is a president at present and the party has not thought about a change yet. I cannot vouch for what would happen in future and it is for the party to take a decision at the appropriate time,'' he said. Mr. Antony said he was not prepared to trigger off another round of factionalism, as a majority of the Congress(I) and UDF workers and those who believed in democracy yearned for a united platform to prevent the CPI(M)-led LDF from coming back to power.

In reply to a question, Mr. Antony said there was nothing wrong in the IUML leader, Mr. P. K. Kunhalikutty, meeting the Chief Minister, Mr. E. K. Nayanar. The meeting only indicated the amiable relations political leaders shared in the State. He was confident that the IUML would not quit the UDF. ``The Chief Minister is harping on a possible alliance with the IUML because he was not confident that the LDF would return to power. The LDF is disintegrating and its popular base has become shaky. In order to emphasise that there was no problem in the UDF, Mr. Antony said the UDF would unitedly boycott the fourth anniversary celebrations of the Nayanar Government. The UDF High Power Committee would meet on May 23 for a full session on the strategy to be adopted for the local bodies elections.

Mr. Antony said his party was against any formal alliance with the BJP at any level. He identified the BJP and the CPI(M) as its main enemies and averred that the Congress(I) would be uncompromising in its fight against the BJP at the Centre and in the States where it was a force. In Kerala, his party would train its guns on the CPI(M). Mr. Antony said he was against a formal alliance with the BJP at any level, though there was no harm in seeking BJP votes. ``I myself won from Cherthala with a massive majority because Marxists also voted for me,'' he quipped.

Regarding the doubts expressed by some quarters about Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's ability to lead the Congress(I), Mr. Antony said a majority of the Congressmen were of the opinion that Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's leadership was imperative. He denied that there was a delay in implementing the recommendations of the Congress Evaluation Committee headed by him. ``In the current complicated political situation, there was no magic solution for the Congress(I) to retrieve its mass base overnight,'' he remarked.

On his aircraft dues to the Defence Forces, Mr. Antony said he had not got any official word on this and that he would give an explanation when the time comes.

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Section  : Regional
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