Date:01/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/01/stories/2005040112890300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Antony's stand not harmful: Kodikkunnil

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA, MARCH 31. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary, Kodikkunnil Suresh, has said that the stand of the former Chief Minister A.K. Antony regarding the crisis in the party's State unit is not harmful to the organisation.

At a press conference here today, Mr. Suresh, however, said that in the present political situation in the State it was better to take stringent action against those who violated party discipline. Disciplinary action will be taken against those who form parallel committees. The high command will take appropriate action.

Mr. Suresh said the party would wholeheartedly welcome the senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran if he was willing to participate in the zonal rallies of the KPCC. ``But there is no question of inviting the former KPCC president K. Muraleedharan as he had been suspended from the party.'' Mr. Suresh said that district-level conventions of the party were going on and it would be followed by Assembly constituency-level conventions and mandalam conventions. The zonal rallies of the KPCC will prove where Congress workers stand.