Left renews backing for Congress rebels

Amid claims and counterclaims of the rival factions of the Congress over majority in the Kerala Assembly, the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) yesterday pledged its full support to forming an alternative government by veteran Cong-ress leader K. Karunakran.

Briefing the media on the opposition meeting held here to discuss the possibility of an alternative government, LDF Convenor Paloli Muhammed Kutty said there was no reason to doubt Karunakaran's claim that he had the support of 34 MLAs from the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF).

"The A.K. Antony administration has come to a standstill and he should step down," Paloli said.
He said the LDF and the 'I' group led by Karunakaran would jointly discuss government policies and programmes when necessary.

He reiterated that the LDF will not support the participation of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in the new government.

The LDF has made it clear that it would not join the government but would support it from outside. With the support of all its 40 MLAs, and the UDF's 34 MLAs the government could be toppled. In a House of 140, only 71 MLAs are needed to unseat Chief Minister A.K. Antony.

However, the 'A' group led by Antony rebuffed the claim of Karunakaran and pointed out that ever since he began the 'dump Antony' drive several MLAs had deserted him and if he chose to split the party he would not have the support of more than 12 MLAs.

A few months ago Karun-akaran had the support of 26 MLAs but as the by-election to the Rajya Sabha seat hotted up three of the MLAs left him. Even as the controversial November 19 Kochi rally neared, two more MLAs – P.G. Joy and Varkala Kahar – came out of the group, they said.

The 'I' group has now come out in the open declaring that it would work publicly in support of the LDF candidate in the Thiruvalla Assembly by-election.

The group had already formed committees for electioneering in favour of the LDF candidate in all the 109 booths in the Assembly segment.