Karunakaran most welcome to parent outfit: Congress leader

Kozhikode, Sep 21 (UNI) Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) founder leader K Karunakaran is most welcome to the parent Congress if he accepted the leadership of party supremo Sonia Gandhi, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president Mullappalli Ramachandran today said.

''We will welcome Mr Karunakaran, who rendered yeomen service for the party, with folded hands,'' provided he accepted Ms Gandhi's leadership, Mr Ramachandran said at a party function here while referring the rebellion in the DIC(K) on its proposed merger with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

He said throughtout his life Mr Karunakaran had maintained Congress culture and stood by the party when it faced setbacks many times.

But he had forced to defy the party leadership recently because of his son and DIC(K) president K Muraleedharan, who was unable to imbibe the Congress culture and tradition.

However, Mr Muraleedharan was not acceptable to the party because of his "dictatorial style of functioning," Mr Ramachandran said.

Cashing in on the sacrifices made by Mr Karunakaran, Mr Muraleedharan was able to become KPCC president, a post held by many starwarts, he said.

But he was unable to keep justice to the coveted post because of his anti-democratic anti-party activities, Mr Ramachadran added.

UNI PCH1843