Muraleedharan warns of poll debacle in Kerala

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President K. Muraleedharan said yesterday that he could see possibility of a solution to the simmering crisis in the Kerala unit of the party by the January 28 deadline.

Speaking to mediapersons here, he said continuation of the crisis would spell disaster for the party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"The bugle for war has been sounded. Those who blow their own trumpets in the Congress will see on the election day where the party workers will stand. The debacle suffered by the Congress in the recent by-election in Ernakulam will be repeated in other constituencies also," he added.

Muraleedharan's statement comes close on the heels of reports that the Congress high command, which was trying to find a formula to end the Kerala crisis, had ruled out the possibility of giving him an important ministerial berth by way of settlement.

Though supporters of veteran party leader and Muraleedharan's father K. Karunakaran had shown willingness to drop his demand for the ouster of Chief Minister A.K. Antony if his son was given Finance or Home portfolio, Karunakaran's rivals had been fiercely opposing such a compromise.

Muraleedharan said the 'I group would prove that it was the real Congress in the coming elections. Alluding to reports that the Congress was heading for a split, he said that the 'I' group would stay on the party and prove its might.

He wondered how some people who had left the party once and returned later disappointed could try to make the entire party as their own. He was referring to Antony group's stint with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).

Meanwhile, Kerala Governor Sikandar Bhakt yesterday deplored that Keralites known for their industrious nature all over the world were wasting their time at home for prolonged controversies.

Inaugurating the Republic Day celebrations here, he said needless controversies were hampering the State's development. He regretted the yawning gap between Keralites' potentials and actual performance.