By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram : Former Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran, who rejoined the Congress last year, Friday aired his resentment against the party because his supporters were not being allotted posts.
Admitting that there were no conditions attached to his return to the Congress, Karunakaran said: “In all fairness, it would only be good for the party if those who returned to the party are accommodated. A united Congress party has already yielded results.”
Karunakaran, who had split from the Congress and started his own party, returned to the Congress fold last December and has been accommodated as a permanent invitee in the Congress Working Committee. However, none of his aides has managed to get any post in either the state or district level of the party.
He has held discussions on the matter with state Congress president Ramesh Chennithala and leader of opposition Oommen Chandy.
While Chandy gave the slip to the waiting media after the discussions with Karunakaran, Chennithala said adequate representation would be given to the veteran’s supporters.
Last month, Chennithala had said a decision on this had to come from New Delhi. But Mohsina Kidwai, party general secretary in charge of Kerala, said that it was to be decided at the state level.
Reports indicate that Karunakaran, who turns 90 last July, had expressed his displeasure on being sidelined by Chandy and Chennithala and the party leadership in Delhi had directed them to meet him at the earliest.
One reason why Karunakaran is turning restless is the Lok Sabha elections next year. If he does not put pressure on the party now, then it might be too late for him and his supporters, when it comes to choosing party nominees.