The Hindu : Kodoth, the scapegoat of Cong. feud

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 02, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Kodoth, the scapegoat of Cong. feud

By K.P. Pushparaj

KASARAGOD MAY 1. The heat and dust of the factional divide in the State Congress camp over the recent elections to the Rajya Sabha appear to be over without much damage to the party. But, one person, who had never before been in the thick of factional politics in the party, had to pay a heavy price for it: the Karunakaran loyalist and former Kasaragod DCC president, Kodoth Govindan Nair.

The 60-year-old lawyer who contested against the official candidates in the Rajya Sabha election is now without his primary membership of the party besides the coveted post of Kasaragod DCC president. Thanks to the `show of strength' by the `I' faction, the group supremo, K. Karunakaran, the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, and the 26 MLAs, including two Ministers, who stood steadfast with Mr. Karunakaran are almost certain to go scot-free. This is despite the third and fourth groups, led by the AICC secretary, Ramesh Chennithala, and the AICC general secretary, Vayalar Ravi, respectively, clamouring for the ouster of Mr. Muraleedharan from the KPCC presidentship and the sacking of the two Ministers in the Antony Cabinet for revolting against the party.

The AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Ambika Soni, was bold when she asserted on April 17 that the party could not get along with indiscipline of this kind (rebel candidate and factional divide) and that some action should be contemplated on the group leaders for bypassing the party high command in the election issue. But the party leadership apparently is more worried about a vertical divide in the State unit with the Lok Sabha elections round the corner. That apart, the not-so-demanding stance by the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, on any action against Mr. Karunakaran and his loyalists also might have contributed to influencing the high command rethink and revise its decision.

Notwithstanding the softening of stance by the high command, Mr. Govindan Nair is out of his chair, which is now occupied by the former DCC president and KPCC general secretary, K.P. Kunhikannan, as an additional charge. In fact, the six members who resigned from the DCC as a mark of solidarity to Mr. Karunakaran are back in their seats.

``No. I am not a scapegoat in strict sense. Even if it is treated so, I am only happy to sacrifice myself for a good cause,'' Mr. Nair told The Hindu. On the possibility of withdrawing the disciplinary action against him, in the light of dispensing others without any action, Mr. Nair said he was hopeful adding that the process would take some time.

Asked about the fate of Mr. Nair, Mr. Karunakaran said that necessary action would be contemplated to reverse the action. ``It was the KPCC president who suspended Mr. Nair and the process of reversal would be easier as it has to be decided by the KPCC president himself,'' he added.

And the vague but confident hints dropped by both Mr. Karunakran and Mr. Nair are indicative of a possible reversal of the action taken against the latter.

This should be the very reason why the compromise formula is getting delayed.

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Kodoth, the scapegoat of Cong. feud