Karunakaran convenes meet to decide strategy

Hinting that he was keeping open the option of breaking away from the Congress in retaliation for the expulsion of his son K Muraleedharan from the party, senior leader K Karunakaran today said his faction's future course would be announced at a convention later this month.

Putting a brave face and rubbishing reports of divisions in his camp and family, Karuna-karan said a strong and lively Congress would come into force in the state whose action plan would be announced at the workers' convention.

Avoiding a direct reply to the question whether he was going to float a new outfit, Karuna-karan said, "A lively Congress will come into effect shortly in the state."

Asserting that the group was ready to face any fall out, Karunakaran said he would announce "a clear and concrete decision" after consulting the party workers, MLAs and leaders of the feeder outfits.

Stating that he was shocked at the way the high command took action against his son, he said "though their target was me, no arrow hit me."

Asked if he still had faith in the central party leadership, he said, "It was unfortunate that the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi or any other senior leader did not contact him before action against Muraleedharan."

"Considering my loyalty to the party and the members of the Nehru family, I never expected this kind of a treatment," he said. Alluding to reports that he was spared of action considering the "age factor", the octogenarian leader said "age is fit for me to go ahead."