Tripping up Antony

In Kerala, the Congress High Command has its work cut out for itself in just reining in the former chief minister, K. Karunakaran. The old w...

In Kerala, the Congress High Command has its work cut out for itself in just reining in the former chief minister, K. Karunakaran. The old war horse seems set on a single-point agenda 8212; of discrediting the 16-month-old Antony government in the desperate hope of staging a comeback as chief minister.

In fact, if this goes on for much longer, Antony could be denied any chance to settle down and even attempt to do what he had promised to when he had assumed office: reform the state8217;s stagnant economy and make a clean break with the patronage politics that has over the years led it to the boondocks.

This task, even in the best of circumstances, is a tall order, given the disparate caste, communal and personal lobbies and interests at work. But dealing with Karunakaran8217;s brazen political blackmail is Antony8217;s biggest challenge at the moment.

Not surprisingly, then, the agenda to modernise the economy and create a new and cleaner political culture has already wilted under pressure. The economy is in a shambles with even the vice-chairman of the Planning Board having pronounced it dead.

Politically, the cabinet has ceased to speak in one voice, as was eloquently demonstrated when the government had attempted to hike the power tariff recently and had to beat a hasty retreat. Karunakaran8217;s daily threats have also forced Antony to increasingly shut his eyes to the cavalier ways of some his arrogant ministers and powerful senior bureaucrats, who have got used to having their way by turning for succor to the Congress8217; powerful coalition partners in power 8212; the Muslim League and the Kerala Congress Mani.

The High Command in Delhi has adopted a hands-off stance, not wishing to risk incurring Karunakaran8217;s displeasure. But it is making a mistake by doing so. It must realise that the old war horse cannot create any more problems for the party in Kerala than what he is doing at present. Secondly, by acting firmly against his machinations, it could also call his bluff, for behind all the noise that Karunakaran makes is his growing estrangement from his own supporters, a majority of whom are clearly against his games of brinkmanship.

His son and KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, has built up a comfortable working relationship with Antony. His three nominees in the government have also quietly gravitated to Antony8217;s side. Karunakaran8217;s latest demand for a Cabinet reshuffle is only a ruse to keep his supporters in the assembly from following suit.