Karunakaran to go together with Congress in the coming elections

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 23: The Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) and the Congress tonight decided to fight together the coming assembly elections in Kerala, a day after veteran leader K Karunakaran openly stated that he ''respects Soniaji as a member of the Nehru family.'' ''We have decided to go together in the coming elections,'' Mr Karunakaran and Congress Working Committee member in charge of Kerala Veerappa Moily jointly told reporters after their discussions at the formers house.

Certain small details have to be worked out, Mr Karunakaran said and added it would be worked out together.

DIC (K) president K Muraleedharan meanwhile walked out in the midst of the discussions. When asked about this, Mr Karunakaran said the DIC(K) president would agree to whatever decision the leaders of both the parties took.

Mr Moily added to it saying that M Muraleedharan was with them through out the discussion and that there was no dispute between him and the Congress or between him and the DIC (K).

Both the leaders said that the details of the decision would be announced tomorrow. They would be meeting tomorrow also to work out the finales.

Mr Moily, Mr Muraleedharan, Congress president Ramesh Chennithala, DIC (K) leader T M Jacob, Indian Union Muslim League leaders P K Kunhalikutty and E T Mohammed Basheer had discussions in the evening. The leaders, excepting Mr Chennithala, after the discussions went to Mr Karunakaran's house to finalise the details.

Earlier there were also reports that the Congress had offered a clear package to the DIC(K) for a tie-up for the April-May Assembly elections.

Indian Union Muslim League general secretary P K Kunhalikutty who is playing a major role to bring the DIC(K) to the United Democratic Front, held discussions with DIC(K) president K Muraleedharan and conveyed to him the package offered by the Congress.

Though neither the Congress nor the DIC(K) had disclosed the details, there were reports that the UDF would offer 18 seats to the DIC(K) in the 140-member House. The DIC(K) also wanted to retain its identity by contesting on the television poll symbol allotted to it by the election commission.

UNI