Party deserters are ''opportunists'': Karunakaran

Thrissur, Kerala, Sep 17 (UNI) Democratic Indira Congress (K) leader K Karunakaran today said the proposed merger of his party in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was to strengthen the base of his party.

Criticising those who had left the DIC(K) in the wake of the merger moves, the veteran leader termed them as ''opportunists'' and claimed that 90 per cent of the workers were still with him.

Talking to newspersons at the Rama Nilayam Government Guest House here, Mr Karunakaran charged his former follower Shobhana George, who quit the DIC(K) to re-join the Congress yesterday, of ''enacting a drama directed by Opposition leader Oommen Chandy''.

''The other actor in the drama, the KPCC chief Ramesh Chennithala was not present on the stage. But, Shobhana should be given the best actress award for 2006,'' he alleged.

Mr Karunakaran also offered prayers at the Guruvayur temple near here today on the occasion of the first day of the Malayalam month 'Kanni'.

A reception was also given to him by the DIC(K) workers here.

UNI XR ARC BDP BS1822