Karunakaran loyalists stay firm

The 13 Kerala legislators loyal to senior Congress leader K Karunakaran today asserted that they did not violate any directive of state Congress committee or the AICC by attending the March 21 meeting convened by Karunakaran at Kochi.

In their reply to the showcause notice issued by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the "I" faction MLAs pointed out that there was no intention of any kind to disobey the direction of the party leadership or to violate any disciplinary rule.

Chandy, pursuing a hard-line against the dissident activities of "I" group, had served a notice on them asking the MLAs to explain why action should not be taken against them for attending the rally banned by the AICC and organised by K Muraleedharan who had been suspended from the party.

The MLAs said they did not participate in the rally but were present on the dais during the public function organised to strengthen the hands of the party president.

They wanted the party leadership to accept their explanation and treat their attitude as a positive step towards maintaining discipline and solidarity in the party.