Date:29/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/29/stories/2008032958220400.htm

New Delhi

Karunakaran meets Sonia

Special Correspondent

K. Karunakaran

NEW DELHI: Veteran Congress leader K. Karunakaran on Friday met party president Sonia Gandhi to seek rehabilitation of his loyalists in the party’s hierarchy. Though he refused to divulge details about the meeting, he said he was “satisfied” with the discussion and “confident” that all his deserving loyalists would be accommodated within the party set-up.

Mr. Karunakaran said he apprised Ms. Gandhi and party in-charge of Kerala Mohsina Kidwai of the goings on in the State unit. As to whether he had got any indication from the Congress high command on when his loyalists - who returned with him in 2007-end - would be made office-bearers, he said: “I am sure a decision will be taken as soon as possible.”

Side-stepping a question on whether he would accept the decision of the Congress leadership, Mr. Karunakaran said he was not hankering for any position for himself but wanted his loyalists to be allowed to play a more active role in the party. Neither did he allow himself to be drawn into commenting on observations made by Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala about his group’s demands for posts in the KPCC, DCCs and other frontal organisations of the party. Reiterating that he returned to the Congress to strengthen the party, Mr. Karunakaran maintained that he was not interested in contesting elections anymore. However, he remained non-committal to a question on whether he would consider contesting an election if it was so desired by the Congress leadership.