Muraleedharan rules out returning to Cong fold

Kozhikode, July 11 (UNI) Deviating from the pre-poll understanding on a merger with the Congress, Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) president K Muraleendhran today ruled out returning to the parent organisation stating that the party was fast losing its mass base in Kerala.

''Those with self-respect cannot return to the Congress'' as Mandalam and block committees no longer existed in the organisation, he said, addressing a party district convention here.

Mr Muraleedhran, who had reportedly agreed to merge the DIC (K) with the Congress as a pre-condition to clinch an electoral alliance with the United Democratic Front(UDF), said his party was not in favour of returing to the Congress, ''which was fast depleting.'' Stating that the tie-up with the UDF had proved dear for the DIC (K), he said the political situation prevailing at that time compelled the party to do so but''we will not commit such mistakes again.'' On the criticism by certain sections in the Congress on DIC (K) UDF tie-up, he said those who won the assembly elections with his party's vote were instrumental in opposing it now.

Expressing support to the Kerala Self-Fiancing College Act, he, however, said certain sub clauses in it were slightly biased towards the private higher educational institutions in the state.

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