Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, July 3 (IANS) Veteran Congress leader K. Karunakaran Saturday alleged that there was no transparency in the process of electing a new party leadership in the state.
Speaking to reporters at his residence here, Karunakaran said claims of consensus by the present leadership led by state party president Ramesh Chennithala and leader of the opposition Oommen Chandy were “humbug”.

“In no way will I accept the present scheme of things being charted out because it is all humbug. They have come and met me two or three times… I will not accept the new leadership because it is (picked) against the principles of the party,” the former chief minister said.

Finalising the various positions in the party from the grassroots level to the state party president’s post has become a troublesome process with different factions vying with each other for a larger share.

The last time a new party leadership was elected through balloting was in the early 1990s when Vayalar Ravi, Karunakaran’s nominee, beat A.K. Antony to the post of state party chief.

“I have written to the Congress president a few times and once again I will bring to her attention the lack of transparency being followed… No one should try to push me down and I will not give up my fight because some people are trying to hijack the party,” said Karunakaran.

Karunakaran and his son K. Muraleedharan walked out of the Congress in 2005 and formed the Democratic Indira Congress-Karunakaran. He returned to the Congress in December 2007.