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Cong
rebels to be ousted: Muraleedharan
Express
News Service
Kozikode,
April 23:
THE Congress rebel candidates remaining on the nomination list after
April 26, the last day for withdrawal of nominations, would be ousted
from the party the next day, KPCC vice-president K. Muraleedharan,
MP, said on Sunday.
He was addressing
a press conference here, organised under the aegis of the Calicut
Press Club. Muraleedharan said group rivalry in the party had been
resolved with every issue of conflict having been thrashed out.
‘‘The Congress rebels will be shown the door on April
27. Party action against such persons will be severe,’’
he said.
According to
him, it was impossible at this stage to predict who the chief minister
would be. The party MLAs would decide it. ‘‘Even astrologers
go wrong with predictions. Then why should we attempt it?’’
he said. He made the remark when asked about K. Karunakaran’s
offer to shoulder any responsibility if the party so entrusted him.
Muraleedharan
said he would not comment on the tussle between party veterans A.K.
Antony and Karunakaran because they would join hands if the need
arose.
On the reported
secret alliance with the BJP, Muraleedharan said it was just a rumour.
‘‘The Congress has no relation with the BJP at national
or local levels. None of the constituent UDF parties has struck
any deal with the BJP. All such talk is cooked up,’’ Muraleedharan
said.
On changes
in candidates even after the high command’s approval, he said
it was nothing new. ‘‘Ground realities necessitate certain
changes even at the last minute. Such changes are part of poll history.
Even here in Vatakara, a leader such as Leela Damodara Menon was
changed after the second round of campaigning to accommodate K.P.
Unnikrishnan three decades ago.’’
On the Nadapuram
issue, the Congress leader said the arrest of Soopi Narikkatteri
and other local UDF leaders was nothing but political vengeance.
They were arrested when trying to maintain peace in the violence-hit
area. They have been charged with the intention of denying bail,
he said.
On UDF’s
possible retaliation if it came to power, Muraleedharan said: ‘‘I’m
not ready to assure you that such things won’t happen once
UDF comes to power. The harassment we have faced under LDF rule
is of such extremity.’’
He said the
detention of PDP chairman Abdul Naser Mahdani without trial for
three years was unjust and illegal. ‘‘Any person should
have the right to a speedy trial and the right to know what offence
he committed. In Mahdani’s case, even a chargesheet has not
been provided in three years.”
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