By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Defence Minister A.K. Antony Tuesday welcomed veteran Kerala leader K. Karunakaran’s return to the Congress, saying both would work together to strengthen the party in the state.
Antony met Karunakaran, who was given the green signal to return to the party by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Dec 30, at a closed-door meeting at the latter’s residence here Tuesday.
“Even though we have been working together in the party for several years, in between Karunakaran left and now that he has returned to the same old family, it is certainly a matter of great happiness; we will work together,” Antony told reporters after a 45-minute meeting with Karunakaran.
Antony said he had come to meet Karunakaran as he was in the city for the past two days.
Asked what role Karunakaran would have in the party, Antony said: “The details of the role of Karunakaran would be decided by the Congress high command.”
Karunakaran, expressing delight over his meeting with Antony, said it had helped both realise the need to strengthen the Congress party in the state.
“In the light of the setbacks to the party in the recent assembly polls, everyone realises that the Congress needs to be strengthened. A general election is also looming,” he said.
Asked about his son K. Muraleedharan, who is still keeping away from the Congress, Karunakaran said that he has some problems and it would be sorted out.
“I am optimistic that he too would return to the Congress party,” he said.
He said his return to the Congress would be through a public rally for which a meeting would be held this month.
“None is opposed to such a meeting,” he said, adding, “I am not going to raise any banner of revolt again or be involved in forming factions or groups in the party. The meeting will take place with the cooperation of all in the state Congress party here.”