With even party president Sonia Gandhi failing to end the groupism-borne crises in Kerala’s Congress and to pacify its allies in the ruling UDF, Defence Minister AK Antony is being looked upon as the only person capable of saving the party and the coalition. Some leaders even want Antony to shift his base from the Centre to Thiruvananthapuram.
The irony is that even K Muraleedharan MlA, son of late Congress strongman K Karunakaran, now wants Antony to play an active role for guiding the party and the State Government it leads despite the fact that it was Antony who replaced Karunakaran as Chief Minister in 1995 when he was forced to resign after being ‘trapped’ in the sensational ISRO espionage scandal.
The war in Congress between the ‘A’ group led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the ‘I’ group of State party chief Ramesh Chennithala is so intense that even Sonia could not bring about a semblance of peace to the party though she met all the important leaders during her two-day visit last month-end.
Sonia had ordered both the groups to bury the hatchet and start preparing the party for the lok Sabha polls during her discussions on September 29 and 30 but it is now obvious that the warring groups had neglected her instructions totally. In that context, she will now send Mukul Wasnik, general secretary in charge of Kerala affairs, to try to work out a truce.
The call for Antony’s increased role “in the party, UDF and the Government” (whatever it meant) had come first from Government Chief Whip PC George, vice-chairman of the Kerala Congress (M), third largest constituent of the UDF. George indicated that Antony’s arrival was the only chance for the Congress and UDF for getting salvaged from total collapse.
George who had several times made veiled demands for the removal of Chandy as Chief Minister, especially in the context of the infamous solar scam in which he as allegedly involved, had indicated that Antony should return to Kerala to helm the affairs of the Government, UDF and the Congress infuriating the Congress leadership in the State.
Muraleedharan and Union Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran called for Antony’s increased role in Kerala politics just when George’s words were being interpreted by supporters of Chief Minister Chandy as an incursion of an ally into the internal affairs of the Congress party.
Coming down heavily on the Chandy Government, Mullappally, known as an ardent loyalist of Antony, said in Kozhikode on Sunday that the Defence Minister should take interest in Kerala affairs. “I have told Antony directly that it was improper from him to keep his disinterestedness when the Kerala party is going through such a serious crisis,” he said.
Muraleedharan, a top leader of the ‘I’ group, shared Mullappally’s view by stating in Thiruvananthapuram, “We also want Antony to be active here. However, he is undergoing treatment in Delhi presently. I will be meeting him soon and will apprise him of the situation of the party in Kerala.”
Antony for his part had months ago made it clear that he did not want to interfere in the Kerala party affairs after his failed attempts to establish peace in the party. During his last political visit to the State, he had clearly told the State leadership that doom would be the inevitable result for the party if all concerned refused to act responsibly.
Everyone in the party knows well that Antony, presently No 2 in the UPA Government as Defence Minister, would not want take up any political or administrative responsibility in Kerala. In that context, what they are asking him is to devote more time and energy to solving the problems in the State party instead of leaving the task to people like Wasnik.
“I don’t think Antony would ever want any part in these squabbles,” said an Antony-loyalist. “Nobody has forgotten how Chandy had got him removed as chief minister and packed him off to Delhi though many never expected him to attain the position he is adorning now. Antony would rather prefer to stay away from the Kerala muddle,” he said.