Tuesday, Jul 22, 2003
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By Girish Menon
The second hurdle was crossed following the decision of the lorry owners to withdraw a six-day-old strike that had threatened to throw life in the State out of gear. The third hurdle was removed when the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) softened its stand against the Chief Minister and entrusted its leader, Panakkad Mohammedali Shihab Thangal, to take an appropriate decision on the issue of a statement that Mr. Antony had made last week with regard to what he saw as aggressive demands made by various minority communities in the State. Mr. Karunakaran softened his position when it became clear that he did not have the numbers in the Assembly. Moreover, the high command apparently threatened to expel from the party five of the MLAs owing allegiance to Mr. Karunakaran, including two who are Ministers. Mr Karunakaran had got 22 of ``his'' MLAs to give in writing that they would sit as a separate bloc in the Assembly. Two MLAs made it clear that they were not for any move that might endanger the government. Some of the other MLAs who gave the written commitment were not exactly happy at the turn of events, and this fact they informed the president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, K. Muraleedharan, who is Mr. Karunakaran's son. The AICC general secretary, Ahmed Patel, who is in charge of the affairs of the party in Kerala, had advised Mr. Karunakaran this morning to desist from his moves and to sort out matters through discussions. He was reported to have said that if this advice was not followed the high command would take disciplinary action against the truant MLAs. While agreeing to maintain the status quo, Mr. Karunakaran made it clear that his faction's main demand was a change of leadership of the government. Mr. Antony is his bete noire. The former Chief Minister spoke at a press conference of the ``lapses'' of the Antony government, including his observations last week regarding the minority communities. The IUML's pro-active moves to ensure that the UDF had the numbers to see it through the vote through also apparently discouraged Mr. Karunakaran from going ahead with his threats. The IUML had directed seven of its members to be present in the House, and had made arrangements to bring in more if the need arose. The IUML's action indicated that it was not prepared to oust Mr. Antony through a vote in the Assembly. The IUML working committee meeting in Kozhikode this evening passed a cryptic resolution stating that Mr. Thangal stood by his critical reactions to the Chief Minister's observations about the minority communities. The IUML leaders, P.K. Kunhalikutty and E. Ahmed, said that the meeting had entrusted Mr. Thangal to take an appropriate decision on the issue. Mr. Antony had had a couple of telephone conversations with Mr. Thangal, which evidently helped cool tempers.
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