Date:15/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/15/stories/2003041505031100.htm

National

Cong. may go easy on Kerala rebels

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 14. The Congress leadership today heaved a sigh of relief at the victory of the two official candidates in the Rajya Sabha elections in Kerala. The party's reaction is also tempered by a sense of realism, and the leadership does not appear to be in a mood to take any action against the rebels or K. Karunakaran.

A much-relieved Ambica Soni, general secretary in charge of Kerala, told the media that the "goal is to strengthen the party in Kerala, and maintain unity so that the Government and the party can fulfil its promises to the people''. She did indicate that the MLAs who opposed the official candidates would get a chance to appeal to the party leadership.

Though visibly delighted at the victory of the official candidates, the AICC leadership sounded conciliatory and was keen on putting the past behind it. "The long-term interests of the party are uppermost,'' said Ms. Soni.

She refused to commit herself on the course of action the party high command proposed to take against the MLAs who had proposed the candidature of the rebel candidate. The leadership would first study the report submitted by the observers, Gulam Nabi Azad and R.K. Dhawan, before reacting.

The party leadership also did not comment on Mr. Karunakaran's role. The leaders appeared to be conscious of the need to bridge the gap and were careful not to say anything that might be construed as trying to rub salt into his wounds. Ms. Soni took pains to clarify that the leadership had done everything possible to reach out to Mr. Karunakaran when the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, was in Delhi last week. "The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, did not stand on prestige, but there was no response,'' she pointed out.

The party once again clarified that the two official candidates were chosen by Ms. Gandhi after assessing the views of all the leaders from Kerala. "Mr. Pillai was chosen because the Congress president wanted to honour him for willingly giving up his position as the PCC chief after the last Assembly elections,'' said Ms. Soni.