Kerala rebels: Sonia for ‘symbolic action’

Muraleedharan gave her the report of B.P. George, the party chief whip in the state Assembly. The report states that ‘‘26 MLAs were expressing their grievances’’ against infighting in the state unit and ‘‘were not defying the high command’’. Sources said that these MLAs have been faxing letters to the party chief reiterating their allegiance to Sonia.

Last week, Muraleedharan himself had submitted a report to Sonia exempting himself from any anti-party activity and stating that he even expelled the rebel candidate following high command’s directive.

The rebel candidate, Kodoth Govindan Nair, polled 26 votes and lost. Official candidates Vayalar Ravi and Thennala Balakrishna Pillai won with 38 and 36 votes respectively.

While defiance of a party whip should attract disciplinary action against the 26 MLAs, the equations in the state have left the high command in a dilemma. That things were mellowing in the dissident camp was clear from the fact that Karunakaran had called up Sonia on Saturday. However, sources also point out that it was the result of Dhawan’s mediation. In Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala CM A.K. Anthony countered Karunakaran’s allegation the two official candidates won due to misuse of official machinery and with the help of the liquor lobby.

‘‘The government is ready to order an inquiry into the issue if anybody files a written complaint on the matter,’’ Antony said. ‘‘Official machinery was not misused in any manner during the time of political crisis,’’ he added.