Murali mends fences with sister ahead of return to Cong

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 17 (PTI) Former KPCC chief KMuraleedharan has mended fences with his sister Padmaja, withwhom he had differences on political views, even as he is setto return to his parent party after a six-year-longsuspension.

Interestingly, the siblings, children of late Congressleader K Karunakaran, decided to come together whenreadmission of Muraleedharan to the party has almost becomecertain.

A former KPCC president and ex-MP, Muraleedharan wassuspended from Congress some six years back after he brokeranks with it and floated DIC-K with his father''s blessings.

Though Karunakaran returned to the Congress afterDIC-K proved to be an electoral flop, his son kept away frommerging his outfit with NCP and headed its state unit.

After a while, Muraleedharan himself started airinghis eagerness to get back to the Congress. But his re-entryhad been opposed by sections in the state unit.

In an interview to a TV channel, Muraleedharanadmitted there were differences of views in his family.

"But my father had always wanted the family to beunited and my sister and I will go by that," Muraleedharansaid.

Padmaja, who has remained in the Congress, endorsedwhat her brother said, holding that the family unity was theardent wish of their father, who passed away last month.

Padmaja, who had unsuccessfully contested the LokSabha polls on a Congress ticket in 2004, said it was a factthat some people had made an attempt to create disunity.

Muraleedharan had been waiting for a return toCongress after resigning as NCP state President last year. Hehad also actively worked for Congress candidates in the lastlocal body elections in the state.

All senior Congress leaders, including Union MinistersA K Antony, Vayalar Ravi, Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy andKPCC president Ramesh Chennithala had said in recent days thatobstacles to Murali''s re-entry to the party had been removed.

It was upto the High Command to take a decision on thematter, Chennithala said recently.

Muraleedharan also visited Kozhikode District CongressCommittee office yesterday after which he told reporters thatit was just like a ''homecoming.''

His re-entry is likely to materialise after theconclusion of Kerala Mochana Yatra'' of Opposition leaderOommen Chandy on February 4.