Karunakaran firm on DIC (K)-NCP merger

Kozhikode, Sep 13 (UNI) Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) Founder Leader K Karunakaran today expressed hope that the proposed merger of his party with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) would be materialised by the month end.

''The ball now is in Mr Pawar's court,'' Mr Karunakaran, who held discussions with NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on the issue here last night, told reporters.

Presently both the parties had only decided to remain allies and a final decision on the merger would be taken after the NCP's National Council scheduled to be held at Dehra Dun on September 17 and 18.

''I expect Mr Pawar to get back'' after the meeting, he said.

Rejecting that the NCP had any relationship with communal parties as alleged by certain dissident leaders, he said, ''I have no information'' about such ties adding there was nothing wrong in aligning with like-minded parties at the national level.

In an apparent bid to avert further erosion in its rank and file in light of the merger, he said workers' sentiments would be taken into consideration before taking a final decision.

On Congress Leader Oommen Chandy welcoming DIC (K) workers to the parent party's fold, he said the Congress was desperate as cadre were distancing from it.

He ruled out any disciplinary action against senior leaders, including general secretary P Sankaran, who quit the DIC (K) in protest against the merger move and decided to rejoin the Congress.

UNI PCH JJ VA RK1908