Date:12/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/12/stories/2005091211350100.htm

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Congress leaders to hold talks with Pillai today

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leaders will hold talks with the Kerala Congress (B) leader R. Balakrishna Pillai on Monday to clear the way for his return to the United Democratic Front (UDF).

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala told presspersons here on Sunday that Mr. Pillai had agreed to the talks without any preconditions, and the Congress leadership had an open mind on the issue. "He has not set any preconditions. He is coming here for talks tomorrow [Monday], and we have said we are agreeable to it," Mr. Chennithala said.

Replying to questions, Mr. Chennithala said nobody had expelled Mr. Pillai from the UDF, and he had not looked into the reasons why the KC(B) leader quit the ruling alliance. When pointed out that Mr. Pillai was dropped from the Oommen Chandy Cabinet for his having openly opposed the Congress candidate in the Adoor Lok Sabha Constituency, the KPCC chief said he was yet to look into such matters.

At a `meet-the-press' programme in Kollam on Saturday, Mr. Pillai had said that there are some issues which had distanced his party from the UDF and if these are solved the party will seriously consider rejoining the UDF.

He said that the Congress high command too was keen that his party remain a constituent of the UDF. To a question he said that a Cabinet berth for his party will not be a precondition for returning to the UDF. ``Never have I had any craze for a Minister's post''.