New Delhi

Not against Karunakaran’s return, say Congress leaders in Kerala

NEW DELHI: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Oommen Chandy on Wednesday said they were not opposed to the return of former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran to the party but were keen on organisational unity.

Speaking to reporters after meeting party in-charge of Kerala Mohsina Kidwai here, the two senior leaders said there was no truth in the canard that they were against Mr. Karunakaran’s return to the party. “Our priority is party unity and that is what we have been stressing on,” Mr. Chennithala said.

They sought an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday. “Unless we know what the Central leadership has in mind, it is not proper for us to air our views on the issue,” he said.

While Mr. Chennithala did not confirm or deny whether Mr. Karunakaran had communicated his desire to return to the party , he indicated that the Congress would not be discussing the issue so seriously if an overture had not come.

Mr. Karunakaran is said to have written to the Congress president expressing his desire to return to the party. This had been an unofficial precondition voiced by many Congress leaders in the wake of Mr. Karunakaran’s pro-Congress statements in the media. “Instead of saying this in the media, he should approach the Congress,” was the refrain of the party leaders when the first overtures were made through the media.

As to whether the Congress was considering opening the door wide enough to allow Mr. Karunakaran’s son also into the party, Mr. Chennithala said it was not under consideration as K. Muraleedharan had gone public stating that he differed with his father on this count. However, he said all those supporters of Mr. Karunakaran who wanted to come to the Congress would be accommodated.

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