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Journalism of Courage
Congress is contemplating suspension of five MLAs, loyalists of Kerala leader K. Karunakaran who today demanded a leadership change in the state because of Chief Minister A.K. Antony’s anti-minority statements.
Hours after his demand in Thiruvananthapuram, the party high command sought to convey that ‘‘enough was enough’’ and ‘‘appropriate action’’ would be taken in case of any indiscipline.
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‘People also want Antony out’ |
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Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran today said the leadership change in Kerala was not the demand of his group alone. |
By ‘‘appropriate action’’ it is believed, the party is contemplating the suspension of five MLAs, including Karunakaran-loyalist ministers Kadavur Shivadasan and P. Shankaran.
AICC’s Kerala in-charge Ahmed Patel said: ‘‘I have made this clear even when I went to Kerala last time that in case of any gross indiscipline, there would be appropriate and serious action taken.’’
‘‘For the unity of the party, the high command will not hesitate going to any extent,’’ he said but denied to specify the action.
‘‘I had told Karunakaran in the morning today that if there are genuine grievances of any group they would be sorted out. That is the responsibility of the high command,’’ Patel said.
On Karunakaran’s demand for leadership change, he said: ‘‘Let him come and convey this to us. Then we will discuss the matter. We have not heard from him on this demand yet.’’
Considering the Appropriation Bill as a proof of unity, Patel said: ‘‘This has happened because of effective intervention from the high command. That is the duty of the high command to make sure everything is smooth.’’
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Party threat has rebel MLAs back Antony in House |
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Thiruvananthapuram: WITH the Congress high command threat to dismiss five Karunakaran supporters, including two Ministers, from the party looming over their heads, the dissident MLAs today refrained from ‘harsh’ actions and voted in favour of the Antony Government in the Assembly. |
Karunakaran’s demand today comes in the wake of directions from the high command that the crucial Appropriation Bill must be passed in the Assembly today.
While the Bill was passed with 87 MLAs in favour and 40 against, Karunakaran sought to make it clear that it was not because he had succumbed to the high command’s threat.
Party sources said these directions were issued through the leaders close to Karunakaran, including his son KPCC chief K. Muraleedharan who is in Delhi.
Over the weekend, the dissidents led by Karunakaran had threatened to sit separately in the Assembly, split the Congress Legislative Party in the state and also to vote against the Appropriation Bill.
Speaking to the press today in Thiruvananthapuram, Karanukaran had said he was informed last night about the party high command’s decision to intervene in the matter and that he ‘‘respects that intervention’’.
‘‘The only solution to problems in the party is a leadership change as all hopes of the government’s performance improving have been belied,’’ he said.
He said this while referring to CM A.K. Antony’s remarks on July 9 saying minority communities, who hold influential positions in the state, should not bargain for more from the Government.
This has led to demands for his ouster and after Muslim League leaders met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Antony had to clarify his stand.
