The Democratic Indira Congress (DIC-K) of veteran leader K Karunakaran today merged with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at a convention here this evening. |
The ailing NCP leader and Union Agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar, could not make it, but Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Maharashtra minister Chagan Bhujbal, general secretaries D P Tripathi and Peethambaran Master, were among the NCP leaders who attended the meeting. |
Addressing the convention, DIC-K founder leader K Karunakaran, said he would not abandon party workers who had stood by him through thick and thin. The merger would ensure that the party reaches greater heights, he said. |
"The coming days and months are crucial. We will teach UDF leader Oommen Chandy a lesson," Karunakaran said. |
Patel said a new change would come about in the country in the days to come with the coming toge-ther of the two parties. |
The NCP will have a great role to play in this, he said. |
The NCP would work to fulfill the vision of Karunakaran for the development of Kerala and the entire country, he said. |
The NCP's flag was handed over by Praful Patel to K Muraleedharan, DIC-K president, signifying the merger. |