DIC (K) to contest polls on own symbol:Muraleedharan

Alappuzha, Mar 17 (UNI) Asserting that the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) will contest the coming assembly polls on the symbol allotted by the Election Commission, party president K Muraleedharan today said there was no a change in the party's stand on contesting the elections on its own.

Inaugurating the DIC(K) leaders camp here, Mr Muraleedharan said the party would give primary consideration to the sentiments of the workers while taking any decision on a merger with the Congress.

Noting that the UDF partners were trying to keep intact the ''democratic forces'', Mr Muraleedharan said that the ''DIC (K) workers were not enthusiastic about a merger with the Congress.'' Meanwhile, DIC (K)'s expelled vice-president M A John today criticised Mr Karunakaran and Mr Muraleedharan for opening talks on a possible alliance with the UDF.

Addressing a press conference in Kochi, Mr John said any tie-up with the Congress (I), with which the DIC (K) had parted ways, would be ''politics of opportunism.'' Stating that several DIC (K) office bearers of the local bodies were against any tie-up with the UDF, Mr John said that he was himself in favour of an alliance with the LDF.

He said he would announce his next course of action in a few days' time.

UNI XR-ARC VV SHB RN2030