'Only party high Command can decide on Muraleedharan issue'

Former Congressman K. Muraleedharan with his father and senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran in Thiruvananthapuram. File photo: Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

With Kerala PCC rejecting his demand for re-admission of his son K. Muraleedharan to Congress, party veteran leader K. Karunakaran on Saturday said the high command alone was competent to decide the issue.

“As the process of enrolment of party members ahead of organisational polls has been completed, the state unit has no power to take decisions till the polls are over,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Asked whether he planned to approach the party high command to press his demand, the 92-year-old leader said it would be brought to the notice of central leaders.

The KPCC executive had on January 27 decided not to reconsider its decision against the re-entry of Mr. Muraleedharan who split the party five years ago while heading the state unit.

Majority of KPCC members were against Mr. Muraleedharan’s readmission, arguing he had done “serious harm” to the party.

It was also pointed out that the six-year suspension slapped on him by AICC was still in force.