KPCC justifies electoral linking with DIC(K)

Thiruvananthapuram, May 14: The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) does not feel that its electoral understanding with the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) was a wrong decision, party spokesman M M Hassan said today.

Though the decision was taken unanimously by the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) partners, the people did not accept the understanding with the DIC(K) ''in its right way'', he told reporters here.

Rejecting media reports that former Chief Minister and CWC member A K Antony was responsbile for the understanding with the breakaway faction of Mr Karunakaran, he said they were trying to ''traduce'' Mr Antony, who was maintaining a clean image in politics.

The decision was taken at the Congress party convention at Kochi with a view to join all parties who believed in democracy to face the election, he added.

Mr Hassan said the Congress would evaluate the reasons that led to the UDF's defeat in the elections and would take corrective steps.

On SNDP president Vellapilly Natesan's demand for the resignation of KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala taking moral responsbility of the UDF's debacle, he asked community leaders not to dictate what the KPCC should do and also not to interfere in the internal issues of political parties.

UNI