Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

DIC(K) decides to merge with NCP

Special Correspondent

Yet to consider about ties with LDF: Murali

Thiruvananthapuram : The Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) on Wednesday formalised its decision to merge with the Nationalist Congress Party led by Union Minister Sharad Pawar. The DIC(K) announced its merger decision without waiting for LDF's clearance knowing well that some of the coalition constituents were opposed to it.

DIC(K) president K. Muraleedharan termed the merger ``a synergy of Mr. Pawar's stature as an all-India leader and the huge popular base of Mr. Karunakaran to bring together all true Congressmen under one roof.'' Further stages leading to the merger and other issues would be discussed in due course, he said.

Mr. Muraleedharan, in reply to a question, listed the differences his party had with the Congress from foreign policy to its stand in the State. Citing an example, he said his party disagreed with the Congress party's foreign policy that moved away from the original non-alignment to supporting the U.S. imperialist forces.

In Kerala, the Congress ceased to function as a responsible Opposition party and seemed to be guided by the narrow objectives of a few leaders. Both Mr. Pawar and Mr. Karunakaran left the Congress because they pointed out the mistakes in the party policies, he said.

Asked about what his party would do if the LDF were to object to the merger, Mr. Muraleedharan said his party did not consider about ties with the Left coalition. The DIC(K) central committee unanimously ratified the merger decision and Mr. Muraleedharan took care to project the decision as a collective one. Out of the 142 central committee members, 117 had attended the meet. The party, he said, decided to go ahead with its merger plans disregarding the decision of some leaders to part ways.

The parting of ways would in no way affect the popular base. He did not want to reply to the charges of some of the leaders who quit recently.

They should have at least expressed their views in the party forum when they were given an opportunity to speak, he said. Mr. Muraleedharan lined a large number of leaders for the press conference. Former MLA M.P. Gangadharan moved the merger resolution that was seconded by M.A. Latheef.

Asked about the conditions for merger, Mr. Muraleedharan said his party's only condition was that all leaders with Congress culture should come on a single platform.

In reply to a question on how his party could consider a merger with the NCP in the context of the recent move of Mr. Pawar for a tie-up with the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election, Mr. Muraleedharan said no one could question the credentials of Mr. Pawar.

He agreed to the NCP-Congress alliance in Maharashtra because he wanted to keep the BJP-Shiv Sena communal combine out of power. The Congress was the largest party in the first term of office and the party nominated its Chief Minister.

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