Congress faction stays away from by-election convention

The 'I' group in the Congress party's Kerala unit yesterday gave more proof of its hardening stand in the face-off with the Congress-led state government, by keeping off the election convention held in Thiruvalla to launch the campaign for the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate.

'I' group members who owe their allegiance to veteran Congress leader K. Karunakaran were conspicuous by their absence at the convention which was inaugurated by Chief Minister A.K. Antony. However, Karunakaran's son and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President K. Muraleedharan was present at the convention.

The by-election in Thiruvalla, scheduled for December 1, was necessitated by the death of MLA Mammen Mathai of the Kerala Congress (Mani). The UDF has decided to field Mathai's widow, Elizabeth Mammen as its candidate.

The election convention featured, besides the Chief Minister, Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty of the Indian Union Muslim League and Agriculture Minister and Janadhipatya Samrakshana Samithy (JSS) leader K. R. Gowriamma, making the absence of `I' group leaders conspicuous.

Antony who inaugurated the convention deftly kept off the factional rivalry issue, and taking a cue from him, Muraleedharan too opted to skirt the issue. Muraleedharan spoke very briefly, which came as no surprise to political observers here, given the ongoing feud between the Antony and Karunakaran factions.

It is learnt that the Kerala Congress (M) leaders did their best to get 'I' group leaders to attend the convention. The 'I' group boycott of the convention does not augur well for the UDF, especially in the background of its Ernakulam by-poll debacle.