Muraleedharan has to bide his time further

By O.J.George

People thought senior leader K.Karunakaran would create a scene at the KPCC executive meeting held at Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday to discuss about the re-entry of his son K.Muraleedharan into the Congress.

Nothing of the sort happened. In fact, it was on the request of Karunakaran that the meeting was convened.

Karunakaran, in his characteristic style, argued out his case and departed from the meeting, for his health would not permit endearing long hours of discourse.

Karunakaran would only say that KPCC does not have the locus standi now to decide about Muraleedharan as organisational polls have been announced. But there is no harm in the KPCC making a decision requesting the high command to give him admission.

That used to be the Congress style of functioning. There would be umpteen rounds of discussions and threadbare analysis on candidates’ list during election time. Finally, a decision would be taken authorising the high command to choose the candidates.

In the present instance of Muraleedharan, Karunakaran’s wisdom is not clicking with the KPCC. One cannot fault the KPCC either, for Karunakaran’ daughter ,Padmaja, and her supporters would not like a comeback of Muraleedharan, until at least the next Assembly elections.

And there is a convenient argument available; Muraleedharan had been barred from the Congress for six years. And that deadline would come to a close in April next year. But by that time candidates’ selection would be over, in all probability.

V.M.Sudheeran, P.C.Chacko and K.K.Ramachandran Master argued in favour of Muraleedharan in the KPCC meeting.

Some relief for Muraleedharan. No doubt, Muraleedharan has nowhere else to go in politics, and he has to bide his time.

He was made the KPCC president, a Minister, MP etc by all the leaders. During those times, Karunakaran was fastidious on account of group strength.Now Karunakaran’s health is on the decline, and his daughter has crossed over to the other camp, or she is having her own coterie.

No doubt Muraleedharan had hit many leaders below the belt in the past. He has to be grateful that Congress people are considerate towards him for a favourable time to come for his entry. Better late than never.