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Stage set for showdown in Congress over poll

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is escorted by Seva Dal workers in Jabalpur during her visit to Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. — PTI photo

Thiruvananthapuram, April 13
The stage has been set for a show of strength between senior Congress leader K. Karunakaran and the party high command over tomorrow’s crucial election to the Rajya Sabha from Kerala, with Mr Karunakaran refusing to pull out his nominee from the fray.

While AICC observers Ghulam Nabi Azad and R.K. Dhawan today discussed strategies with leaders of different factions in the party and UDF constituents to ensure the victory of official candidates Vayalar Ravi and Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, the Karunakaran camp was determined to go ahead with the candidature of Mr Kodoth Govindan Nair, who was expelled from the party for six years last week.

Congress MLAs loyal to Mr Karunakaran met at their leader’s residence here to work out their game plan amid conflicting claims and counter claims of support among the 62- member-strong Congress Legislature Party (CLP). "I" group sources claimed 25 of the 26 MLAs from the group, including ministers Kadavur Sivadasan and P. Sankaran, attended today’s meeting.

While the non-Karunakaran camp exuded confidence that a majority of Congress MLAs and all those from the coalescing parties would stand by the official nominees, the "I" faction besides mustering the full strength of group, was expecting support of certain MLAs belonging to minor UDF partners. The Karunakaran camp also received a shot in the arm, with the opposition LDF declaring that the front would do everything to defeat one of the official nominees of the Congress. PTI