Congress to counter show of might by rebels in Kerala

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee yesterday decided to hold official zonal rallies.

The decision comes close on the heels of rallies organised by veteran leader K. Karunakaran and his son K. Muraleedharan in Kozhikode and the State capital. The Karunakaran or "I" group leaders are now busy organising another rally in Kochi on March 21.

The counter rallies are being organised in the backdrop of the open challenge by Karunakaran to mobilise an official crowd similar to that seen at the "I" faction rallies.

The KPCC hopes that crowd-puller Congress President Sonia Gandhi will grace one of the three rallies to be held in Kozhikode, Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram.

Talking to newspersons here after a meeting of the KPCC office-bearers, President Thennala Balakrishna Pillai said the rallies were being organised in connection with the Dandi March anniversary. While the Kozhikode rally would be held on April 16, the date for the other two rallies would be fixed later.

Thennala, who left for Delhi soon after meeting mediapersons, said he would submit a report to the All India Congress Committee on rebel activities in the state unit.

"Strong action will be taken against all those who violated party discipline," he said, but parried a question on whether action would be taken against Thiruvananthapuram District Congress Committee President Peethambara Kurup, who participated in the "I" faction rally here.

The KPCC had already expelled Muraleedharan from the primary membership of the party.

Though the KPCC had started its suspensions of "I" group activists immediately after the Kozhikode rally on March 9, it had little impact on the faction workers. District office-bearers, who did not turn up at the Kozhikode rally, were present in the rally held in the state capital.

Deputy Leader of the Congress Legislature Party M. P. Gangadharan was among the notable party leaders who attended the Thiruvananthapuram rally. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy last night issued a show cause notice to him for having participated in the March 12 rally.

Referring to reports that the Congress party was on the verge of a split, Thennala said there was no relationship between disciplinary action and a split.

Reacting to former Chief Minister A.K. Antony's effort to avert a major crisis in the party, the KPCC President said, "We are not interested in a split. We are hoping for an amicable settlement."

Meanwhile, Muraleedharan said in Kozhikode that the so-called unity moves in the party was an attempt to sabotage their rally at Kochi.