National

Karunakaran softens stand

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 2 . For the first time since he threatened to float a new party last Wednesday, the Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, today gave a clear indication that the move was more a means to an end, and not the end in itself.

Talking to reporters here this evening, he said: "Forming a new party is not my aim, leadership change in Kerala is." Maintaining that he was "always ready for talks," the octogenarian Congressman said his one-point agenda was the removal of A. K. Antony, from the office of Chief Minister as the Congress would fare poorly under his leadership. He hinted at a willingness to temporarily put on hold his insistence for a leadership change if the All India Congress Committee was unable to accommodate his demand at this juncture.

Non-committal about his threat to float a new political outfit, Mr. Karunakaran said he would do whatever was necessary to force a leadership change in Kerala as the poor administration in the State had made it difficult for party MPs/MLAs to return to their constituencies. As to whether Kerala would have a new political party in the near future, his answer was: "How can I say."

Stating that MLAs loyal to him had authorised him to decide on the future course of action and had expressed their willingness to give up their membership of the Assembly should things come to a head, Mr. Karunakaran said: "I will take appropriate steps when the time comes, and will go as far as I can to reach my goal."

Mr. Karunakaran refused to be drawn into commenting on the decision of the outgoing Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), K. Muraleedharan, to "desert" his father's camp and join the Antony Government. "That was his decision, ask him about it."

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