'Love for India' could see Karunakaran back in Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Veteran Kerala leader K Karunakaran indicated on Friday that he would not mind returning to the Congress, almost two years after he left it to form the Democratic Indira Congress-Karunakaran (DIC-K).

Taking reporters by surprise, Karunakaran said he would 'not mind strengthening the Congress party' if the call comes from 'some responsible people'.
 
"The country is facing severe problems on two fronts, communalism and terrorism. At the moment the Congress leadership is not doing enough to tackle this. To tackle this issue, if a call comes from responsible people in the party to strengthen the country, I would certainly consider returning to the Congress," he said.

The four-time former Congress chief minister added: "I certainly do not mind strengthening the Congress party."

Karunakaran, 88, said he used to wonder what he could do at this age but later realised "that if something is not done now all the hard work put in by various leaders in the country would be lost".

Asked him to clarify whether he was indeed indicating a possible return to the Congress, he shot back: "You might have some confusion, but I don't have any confusion about what I said."

Karunakaran, who returned from New Delhi on Thursday, said his first visit to the capital in two years was hugely successful. He met an array of leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Congress president Sonia Gandhi was not among them but Karunakaran said he would meet her if given an opportunity.

While Karunakaran was giving broad hints that he was ready to join the Congress, his son K Muraleedharan ruled it out.

Last year, DIC-K merged with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). And Muraleedharan said categorically that under no circumstances would the NCP join forces with the Congress.

"I am certain that Karunakaran will not make any move without taking into consideration the sentiments of the party workers because hundreds of Congress workers left the party because of him. The Congress leadership instead of correcting its mistakes is committing more mistakes and he has never sought an appointment with Sonia Gandhi," said Muraleedharan.
 
On Thursday, Karunakaran's close aide and NCP's MP Gangadharan said he might return to the Congress, but none of the NCP leaders would.

The irrepressible Karunakaran reacted by asking: "Do we have to take Gangadharan's statement that seriously."