The Hindu : Karunakaran nominee remains in fray

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

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Karunakaran nominee remains in fray

By Girish Menon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM APRIL 7. The Congress politics in Kerala is inching towards a showdown with the veteran Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, sticking to his decision to keep his nominee, Kodoth Govindan Nair, in the fray and force a contest for the two seats that the party could win from Kerala.

Mr. Govindan Nair did not take back his nomination papers for the election when the time for the withdrawal of nomination papers came to an end this evening.

The Congress high command has virtually named Mr. Nair as a rebel candidate, though senior leaders are still hopeful of thrashing out a formula to avert what could be a disaster if Mr. Karunakaran were to pull off a victory for his candidate at least in the eleventh hour.

Going by the current trend, it looks as if a contest is on cards as the high command has not given even an iota of indication that it would change its decision.

The situation is unlikely to change, unless the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, were to undergo a change in attitude. Mr. Antony is, however, bracing up for the showdown and made it clear that he was determined to call Mr. Karunakaran's bluff.

Several rounds of futile discussions were held by senior party leaders, including Mr. Oommen Chandy, Mr. Antony, the IUML leaders, P. K. Kunhalikutty and E. Ahmed, the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan when they converged on the valedictory venue of the Kerala Raksha Yatra in Kasaragod.

Ironically, the yatra, which was taken out from Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram district, on March 25 in protest against the violent politics of the CPI(M), is concluding when the Congress is facing one of its worst-ever crisis in recent years.

With a contest for the two RS seats a near certainty, the election is becoming a numbers game.

All efforts are on by the Congress high command to close ranks and this was reflected in the party's categorical statement that Mr. Vayalar Ravi and Mr. Thennala Balakrishna Pillai were indeed the official candidate.

Mr. Karunakaran has succeeded in keeping all his detractors guessing. Even at an informal chat with mediamen, he dodged questions about the prospects of his nominee.

"What would happen if Mr. Nair wins is something which no one can predict,'' he said cryptically in his characteristic style. There were many who earnestly believed that the veteran would buckle by the time the withdrawal of nominations ended, but have been left wondering the main objective of this game of brinksmanship.

Obviously, Mr. Karunakaran has taken a political risk by forcing a contest. His major objective, it appears, is to pose a challenge to Mr. Antony's leadership as Chief Minister.

The Karunakaran faction believes that the party high command would suspend Mr. Nair for filing papers for the Rajya Sabha seat.

On the strength of the backing Mr. Karunakaran enjoys in the Congress and that of some of the UDF partners, he is confident that his candidate would touch the magical mark of 36 votes need to win a seat under the preferential voting system. Whether Mr. Nair would indeed win or not is the subject of a hot debate in Kerala politics today.

The contest, if it does take place, actually presents a frightening picture for Congressmen. If Mr. Nair were to win, it would signal a bigger crisis and even undermine the existence of the UDF Government.

But the die-hard optimists who believe that neither Mr. Karunakaran nor any other Congress leader would commit political harakiri.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Karunakaran nominee remains in fray

`Power sector will not be privatised'

Mananthavady Bishop to be laid to rest today

KMML proves its mettle

Decisions after meeting Sonia: Murali

Drug overdose: HC orders new probe