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Rift in KPCC over CM's statement

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 15. The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony's remarks on majority-minority equations appear to have disclosed the rift in the KPCC.

The rift came into the open when three KPCC office-bearers, owing allegiance to the Antony faction -- Thalekunnil Basheer, Benny Behanan, and M.K. Raghavan -- met the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan to express their strong objections against his recent stand on several issues, including his comments on the Chief Minister's remarks.

The three leaders are understood to have pointed out that Mr. Muraleedharan had received all round support in the party on account of the impartial stand he had taken from time to time and that they had reservations about his positions now, which had undergone a vast change. Some of his positions appeared to be tilted in favour of the Karunakaran group, they said.

The Antony faction would have to take a decision on its attitude towards the KPCC president if he failed to make the necessary corrections in his stand.

Mr. Muraleedharan, according to his spokesman, reportedly stated that he had clear differences with Mr. Antony over his remarks that the minority communities were using their combined strength to wrest concessions from the Government.

Such a stand was wrong and unjustified. He told them that he steadfastly upheld the Congress party's declared stand that constitutional guarantees of the minorities should be protected.

Mr. Muraleedharan has been strong in his reaction to the Chief Minister's statement.

The three KPCC office-bearers were smitten by Mr. Muraleedharan's remarks made in Kasaragod the other day.

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