Opposing his party's decision to merge with Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, Democratic Indira Congress (K) state vice president and former Kerala [Images] minister P Sankaran on Wednesday announced that he was quitting the party and returning to the Congress.

"The DIC(K)'s decision to merge with the NCP is against the very principles on which the party was formed. Also, this is an attempt to join hands with the Left forces," he told a press conference in Kozhikode.

DIC(K) leader K Karunakaran and Pawar led the first round of talks in Kozhikode on Tuesday night on the former's merger with the NCP.

Accusing the leadership of not even discussing the merger issue at the party level, Sankaran said several functionaries, including DIC(K) district vice president E K Gopalakrishnan and general secretary M K Sahadevan, had also decided to join the Congress along with him.

"It is better to remain in a party with respect without enjoying any position," he said on his decision to return to Congress with which he was associated till Karunakaran decided to part ways with the Sonia Gandhi-led party to form DIC(K).

Meanwhile, welcoming Sankaran's decision, Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy said the Congress was prepared to take back all those who decide to return to the fold.

"This is the most opportune time for all those who have left to have a rethinking and return to the Congress," Chandy said. 

Those who return would be treated with dignity, the ex-CM said. He accused the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front government of misleading the people regarding the Smart City Project, a joint venture with the Dubai government.