Day after, Cong downplays Karunakaran role

A meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the AICC is expected to be held soon to assess the damage to the party. The Karunakaran faction is meeting tomorrow in Kerala to finalise post-election strategy.

If anyone is wondering why the Congress is being soft on Karunakaran, the party knows better that it would be only prudential to neutralise the Karunakaran factor in its defeat in Ernakulam. The party does not want to credit Karunakaran for the defeat, identifying him as a force to reckon with in the state. By absolving him of the responsibility for the defeat, the party has put the onus on Karunakaran to act. The party would now see if the increasing proximity between Karunakaran and the LDF would materialise into an alliance.

However, senior leaders say that some action could be taken against dissidents to send out the ‘‘right message’’ from the party high command.

The task of identifying dissidents and the action that can be taken against them would be taken up by the Shahi committee for disciplinary action set up last week. Though the party observers’ report has been submitted to the high command, it is significant that the party has contemplated no action.

The party is concerned about the minority community’s displeasure in Kerala where they form a major votebank, especially with Lok Sabha polls drawing closer.

Meanwhile, a day after the Congress’ defeat in Solapur, Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde postponed his meeting scheduled for tomorrow and said that he is flying to Delhi to meet Sonia. She is returning tomorrow from Karnataka.