Chandy hatched conspiracy to oust Antony: DIC(K) leader

Kozhikode, Oct 18 (UNI) Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) leader M P Gangadharan today accused senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy and his associates of hatching a conspiracy to oust Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony in 2004 to fulfil their ''nefarious intentions.'' ''Chandy, Vakkom Purushothaman and Aryadan Mohammed had prepared a game plan to oust Antony, from power'' as per their ''hidden agenda,'' he told reporters while refuting the recent charge of Mr Chandy that senior leader K Karunakaran was behind the move.

A high-level Congress team, including Pranab Mukherjee, Anil Shastri, Margaret Alva and Ahmed Patel had visited the state to study the political situation following the resignation on August, 29, 2004.

Neither Chandy nor his team talked about the resignation and no statement was issued in this connection. None of them even appealed to the High Command or Mr Antony to withdraw resignation, he said hinting that the trio were eyeing the chief minister's chair.

What was the need for a change of guard when the United Democratic Front government, headed by Mr Antony, ''a true gentleman,'' was performing well, he wondered.

He said Mr Chandy, who succeeded Mr Antony as Chief Minister had offered him a ministerial berth in his cabinet if he extended his support to him.

The offer was renewed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi also when he met her in New Delhi immediately after the change of guard in the state.

On the proposed merger of the DIC (K) with the NCP, Mr Gangadharan said the move would strengthen the party at the national level, adding that the rank and file of the DIC(K) wholeheartedly supported the move.

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