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Journalism of Courage
The crisis in Kerala Congress deepened today with rebel leader Kodoth Govindan Nair filing nominations for the Rajya Sabha to give a fight to the party high command’s nominees, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai and Vayalar Ravi.
Nair has the backing of K. Karunakaran, and is believed to have been nominated to put pressure on the high command. His nomination papers were supported by signatures from 20 MLAs, apparently showing the numerical strength he has. ‘‘Muraleedharan had no choice but to resign, when he was being sidelined and his suggestions over-looked,’’ said a leader close to Karunakaran, who also felt that the crisis had brought Muraleedharan closer to his father’s faction.
However, KPCC sources point out that the Karunakaran faction has a maximum of 27 MLAs, which might not make much difference in a total of 100 UDF MLAs.
Said a Karunakaran loyalist: ‘‘One thing is for sure, two Congress nominees will be elected to Rajya Sabha. There is no telling whether these will be official nominees of the party or not.’’ Meanwhile, the two candidates, Pillai and Ravi, have a long wait ahead till the date for withdrawal of nominations on April 7. While both are expected to sail through the election with enough majority, it would be a loss of face if the rebel candidate also remains in the fray, dividing the Congress votes.
Refusing to call the nomination an ‘‘act of indiscipline’’, AICC spokesperson Jaipal Reddy today, termed it just ‘‘a political question.’’ ‘‘Karunakaran is a very senior leader and we are confident he will not do anything that affects the party’s interests,’’ Reddy said.
