The Hindu : Front Page : `DIC(K) will play crucial role in post-poll period'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 11, 2006

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Front Page

`DIC(K) will play crucial role in post-poll period'

Special Correspondent

Karunakaran says the polls will throw up a hung Assembly

Thiruvananthapuram: Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) leader K. Karunakaran said here on Monday that his party would play a crucial and decisive role in the post-election period.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme organised by the Kesari Journalists' Trust here, Mr. Karunakaran said the election results would throw up a hung Assembly, as both the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) were not in a comfortable position.

He said the merger with the Congress was not on his party's agenda at present and a decision on this would be taken after the Assembly elections on the basis of the situation prevailing then and as per the wishes of the party's rank and file. "There is no question of taking a unilateral decision without taking into account the sentiments of the workers," he said.

Mr. Karunakaran highlighted two other points in his press meet — his party had reluctantly accepted the 18-seat offer, which was much below its strength, and that he and his party men were only fellow travellers of the UDF. When compared to earlier situations, both the fronts were not in a position to state with any certainty that they would win a ruling majority. As far as the DIC (K) was concerned, it would take a decisive stand and perform its role in installing a stable Government rather than jockey for power, he said.

Mr. Karunakaran said he had made attempts to forge an alliance with the Left parties on the basis of national political developments and because his party wanted a stable and functioning Government. However, this did not materialise, as the Left leadership in Delhi had failed to guage the sentiments of its party workers in the State. Mr. Karunakaran blamed the CPI (M) Polit Bureau for scuttling his party's move to ally with its State unit.

`Untruths'

He termed as "untruths" the reported statements of the All India Congress Committee representative and the Chief Minister that his party had agreed to merge with the Congress after the elections. Asked whether he would accept Oommen Chandy as Chief Minister, Mr. Karunakaran said the matter was for the coalition partners to decide.

Asked about the support extended by the Indian National League, the People's Democratic Party, and the Jamaat-e-Islami to the LDF, Mr. Karunakaran said it would be better if political parties examined the antecedents of those supporting them. He, however, hastened to add that PDP leader Abdul Nasir Maudany's case deserved a more compassionate treatment considering the fact that the country had a democratic system.

Asked whether he would share a platform with the Chief Minister, Mr. Karunakaran said he was willing to do so, but wondered whether Mr. Chandy would be prepared for that. "I am prepared to share a platform with a person who is worse off than Chandy. But he apparently has reservations," he said.

In reply to another question on whether he would participate in the campaign of Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Karunakaran said he had no reservations if she agreed to it.

Chennithala's reaction

Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala said in Pathanamthitta that the proposed merger of the DIC(K) with the Congress would be discussed after the elections. Replying to reporters' questions on Mr. Karunakaran's statement, the KPCC chief said the only agenda before the UDF and the Congress now was to win the elections. He said the electoral prospects of the UDF were bright. If elected back to power, the UDF will implement a special package for peasants.

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