Fears over Karunakaran's return to Kerala politics

Senior Congress leader K Karunakaran's decision to return to Kerala politics has been received with a sense of apprehension in state political circles.

The rival Congress factions, headed by A K Antony and G Karthikeyan, think Karunakaran's return to state politics might aggravate factionalism, particularly in the run-up to organisational elections in the party. The elections -- postponed twice because the Karunakaran group refused to acknowledge the Karthikeyan faction -- is now slated for next month.

Sources in the Antony camp, however, think that Congress chief Sitaram Kesri, who has emerged stronger at the national level without any discernible help from Karunakaran, may ensure that the organisational elections are held in a comparatively free manner.

Kesri, the sources said, is aware of Karunakaran's efforts to regain control of the state Congress organisation. Karunakaran, who has already lost clout in Delhi, cannot afford to lose ground in Kerala. He is already in a disadvantageous position with Karthikeyan breaking on his own. Additionally, state Congress president Vayalar Ravi is also toying with the idea of parting ways with Karunakaran.

According to party sources, Ravi is aggrieved by Karunakaran's attempt to elevate his son K Muralidharan -- currently one of the party's state general secretaries -- to the Kerala Congress presidency. Ravi, who walked away from the Antony group in the early nineties, was hoping to get another term as state party president. Karunakaran has refused to support him after Ravi backed Kesri in the party president's election.

Karunakaran's return to Kerala will be more discomfiting for Antony. He announced his decision to devote more time to Kerala after making a frontal attack on Antony -- Karunakaran alleged that the party was ineffective as the state Opposition, under Antony's stewardship.

Other Congress allies back Karunakaran's view. Leaders of their parties believe Antony's soft line with the Marxist-led state government has been suicidal. A United Democratic Front leader said even the Congress candidate's defeat in the Ernakulam by-election could be attributed to the Opposition's failure to bring the government to book on various issues.