Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Opposition not helping itself: Karunakaran

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader K. Karunakaran started off the New Year by firing the first salvo against Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy by criticising him for his “ineffectiveness” in taking up popular issues.

“Since he is my party colleague, I am not prepared to complain. But the Opposition is not making an attempt to raise issues that matter,” Mr. Karunakaran said at a press conference here, his first since recovering from health problems and hospitalisation.

He did not spare Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala. “What can I say about a KPCC that has not been able to utilise workers who returned to the party along with me more than a year ago,” he asked. He said he was disappointed with the state of affairs in the party and had accordingly informed Congress president Sonia Gandhi during her recent visit to the State. “There is hardly any action on the part of the Opposition to make the government function properly. Issues are not being highlighted properly.” When Mr. Chandy’s claims to the contrary was brought to his notice, Mr. Karunakaran said he had no intention of contesting Mr. Chandy’s claims but the only thing that had been taking place was frequent walkouts in the Assembly.

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