Congress high command expels Muraleedharan

The Congress Party high command yesterday expelled veteran leader K. Karunakaran's son and Kerala Congress Committee President, K. Muraleedharan, from the party.

Muraleedharan, who was suspended from the Congress party's primary membership a few weeks ago for dissidence, will now remain expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years.

He was suspended for criticising the party high command and forming parallel committees and organising rallies in several districts.

In an emotional reaction, Karunakaran termed the expulsion as "thankless, unfortunate and cruel".

Talking to reporters at his residence here, Karunakaran said his next course of action would be based on the aspiration of the party workers. However, he did not specify whether he would form a new party.

"During my seven-and-a-half-decade-long political career I have crossed swords with the party leadership. But I have never been opportunistic. But those who are opportunistic are now taking such a decision. It might be a reward for my long political career," he said.

Though the decision to expel Muraleedharan was taken a few days ago its announcement by All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi in New Delhi was delayed in the hope of a last-minute patch-up.

Former Chief Minister A.K. Antony arrived in Delhi yesterday hoping some solution could be found but his moves yielded no result. The expulsion decision was announced subsequently.

Soon after the announcement, Antony said that he had tried his best for reconciliation but failed. He said the high command took the final decision, and now all have to accept it. He also stated that nobody should leave the party, no matter what the problem. Everything could be sorted out within the party.

Muraleedharan said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was responsible for his expulsion. He said his father would chalk out the future course of action on tomorrow.

Reacting to his expulsion from the party, he said, "I heard the news on television. I have enough time to think about future plans." Muraleedharan asserted that he would concentrate more on strengthening the party and prove that it was the original Congress in the state.

He said he would go ahead with the coordination committees to strengthen the faction and there was no need to wait any more.

Chandy termed the expulsion as "inevitable". Claiming that Muraleedharan had invited the high command's wrath, Chandy said the action was inevitable as he had continued with his anti-party activities.