Resentment in DIC(K) against poll pact with UDF

Kozhikode, Mar 25: Intense resentment is brewing in the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) in Kerala against the decision to join hands with the United Democratic Front, with senior leaders announcing plans to form separate outfits and field rebel candidates in the April/May Assembly elections in the state.

Rebellion has surfaced in the Congress too, with Pathanamthitta DCC president K Sadasivan Nair announcing his candidature for the Aranmula Assembly constituency against the DIC(K) candidate.

Immediately after the pact was announced, DIC(K) former senior vice-president M A John, expelled from the party recently, said he would lauch a forum comprising 'real DIC(K) activists.' Stating the move was against the aspirations of the party rank and file, he said the DIC(K) leadership had virtually surrendered its prestige to the UDF. Senior leader K Karunakaran would have to pay a heavy price for ignoring sentiments of grassroot workers, he said.

Describing the move as a virtual surrender to the Congress, party treasurer Kodoth Govindran Nair, who opposed the move from the start, said he would quit the party as soon as the details of the agreement between the DIC-K and UDF were made known.

Mr Nair said he would contest the election from Kasargod as an independent candidate.

DIC (K) Kollam district chief K Karunakara Pillai said the decision of Mr Karunakaran, who had said he would not return to the Congress even if the Prime Ministership was offered to him, was unfortunate.

He said the district committee would put up their own candidates in the election throughout the district.

UNI