Southern States - Kerala

Alexander's claims overlooked: Pillai

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JUNE 17. The Kerala Congress(B) leader, R Balakrishna Pillai today questioned the decision of the Congress and the IUML to support Abdul Kalam's candidature for President overlooking the claims of P. C. Alexander, who belonged to a minority community in Kerala.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Pillai said that the Congress had opposed the candidature of Dr Alexander as he was a nominee of the NDA, but it did not have any qualms in supporting Dr Kalam's nomination even though he too happened to be the NDA's nominee. Besides, the two UDF majors had taken a unilateral decision on the issue without consulting the other partners which cannot be justified and going by the same yardstick, the other partners were also free to take their own decisions.

``The Congress leaders have been crying hoarse that policy decisions were not being discussed in the UDF meeting before Ministers belonging to the UDF constituents implemented them. Going by the same yardstick, the positions of the major partners were unjustifiable,'' he said.

In reply to a question, Mr Pillai said there was no need for the UDF to discuss the question of unitedly voting during the presidential elections since the Congress and the IUML had already announced their decisions. Mr Pillai insisted that his party's State committee would take a final decision on the issue, though he dropped broad hints that it would go along with the other partners in voting for Dr. Kalam.

The Kerala Congress(B) also decided to send its nominee for the UDF High Power Committee meeting. However, Mr. Pillai would stick to his decision to keep off the UDF meeting.

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