Congress(I) polls as scheduled

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 25. The Congress(I) Election Authority for Kerala, Mr. Janardhanan Poojari, has ruled out the question of postponing the organisational elections in the State. The polls, he said, would be completed well in time for the AICC president's election on November 1.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr. Poojari said the preliminary election work had been completed and the elections to the primary bodies, the block committees, the DCC(I)s, PCC(I) and the AICC(I) would be held soon after the local bodies elections in September.

The timing of Mr. Poojari's arrival in the State has assumed significance, as it coincided with the Karunakaran faction's demand for organisational elections. Mr. Poojari said the three- member State Election Authority had reviewed the situation and decided to stick to the election schedule announced earlier. He said that according to the latest figures, there were 24,71,525 primary members and 98,861 effective members in the party.

The following is the districtwise break-up of members and effective members respectively: Thiruvananthapuram 3,61,650 and 14,466, Kollam: 2,37,000 and 9,480, Pathanamthitta: 1,07,200 and 4,288, Alappuzha: 2,30,550 and 9,222, Idukki: 86,525 and 3,461, Kottayam: 1,38,425 and 5,537, Ernakulam: 3,09,800 and 12,392, Thrissur: 2,08,400 and 8,336, Palakkad 1,71,650 and 6,866, Malappuram: 1,40,700 and 5,628, Kozhikode: 2,00,700 and 8,028, Wayanad: 60,675 and 2,427, Kannur: 1,58,200 and 6,328 and Kasaragod: 60,050 and 2,402.

Mr. Poojari said 280 Pradesh Congress(I) Committee members from the State would have votes for the election to the AICC(I) president. The election to the primary bodies, numbering 20,000, would be by show of hands and from the block level upwards to the election to the Congress(I) Working Committee, it would be by secret ballot. In reply to a question, Mr. Poojari said it was possible that some variation would be made to the election schedule. Kerala would also have to elect 35 members to the AICC(I).

On Factionalism

In reply to a question, Mr. Poojari said the factional tussle and Mr. K. Karunakaran's threat would in no way affect the UDF's prospects in the coming local bodies elections. ``Mr. Karunakaran is a very senior and respected leader of the party. There is nothing wrong in his expressing his views about party affairs. We are not making much of it.

``The panchayat election is actually an election for the grassroots workers. All leaders, including Mr. Karunakaran, would give top priority to this. And Mr. Karunakaran would be the last person to damage the interests of the party. He is one of the few leaders who have not left the party and continues to be an example to other Congressmen regarding loyalty to the organisation. I am sure he would not do anything that would affect the party in the coming elections,'' Mr. Poojari said.

When pointed out that Mr. Karunakaran was planning to form parallel committees, Mr. Poojari said it was mere media speculation. He said he did not think that Mr. Karunakaran had challenged the high command. ``Any one is free to make a representation to the high command regarding party affairs. Mr. Karunakaran has expressed his views about the party affairs in Kerala. This does not mean that he is going against the high command,'' Mr. Poojari said.

Mr. Poojari said the Congress(I) would not lose sight of the fact that the CPI(M) was its number one enemy in Kerala. Even Mr. Karunakaran has declared that his priority was to fight the CPI(M). Mr. Poojari said he did not believe that Mr. Karunakaran was planning a Trinamool in Kerala. Regarding the high command decision to go in for revamp of the feeder organisations after the panchayat election, Mr. Poojari said the timing of the revamp was not very important. It hardly made a difference whether it was revamped one month before or after the elections, he added.

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