The Hindu : Antony alleges bid to undermine Govt.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Antony alleges bid to undermine Govt.

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM APRIL. 14. The Kerala Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, remarked here today that the UDF Government had survived an attempt to undermine it, even as constituents of the LDF felt he had no moral right to continue in the post.

Talking to presspersons after the victory of the official candidates of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha elections, the Chief Minister said the results showed that the UDF followed the directions of the Congress high command by voting for the official candidates. Both the Congress and the UDF went by the decision of the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Antony said there had been several attempts to undermine the Government. Some Congressmen opposed the official candidates and the LDF helped the rebel candidate. These developments, however, served to strengthen the unity of the UDF. Though happy about the victory, he was not being excessively jubilant.

Replying to questions, the Chief Minister said the action against those who voted against the official candidates was not under consideration now. Those issues, including the voting pattern, could be discussed later. It could not be said that two Ministers had voted against the official candidates as the ballot was secret.

This was a small crisis and problems like that was not unusual in the Congress. As for now, the problems had ended, he said.

Mr. Antony said the crisis had temporarily affected the push for development by the Government. Now, the Government would devote its full attention to its developmental efforts. "Promises will be kept and more development works will be taken up. Proposals presented at the Global Investor Meet will be carried forward on a war-footing.''

The Chief Minister said it should be noted that the LDF candidate had lost a vote (considering the Front's strength in the Assembly). The LDF had tried to defeat the UDF candidates by switching a vote.

Earlier, Mr. Antony, the UDF convener, Oommen Chandy, and the winners, Vayalar Ravi and Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, were greeted by jubilant Congress leaders and workers who were waiting outside the counting hall.

Mr. Balakrishna Pillai warmly embraced Mr. Chandy. Mr. Ravi also joined them. The leaders were virtually mobbed by Congressmen as they came out of the counting hall.

Mr. Antony telephoned Delhi to convey the results to the Congress high command.

Meanwhile, the CPI State secretary, Veliyam Bhargavan, told The Hindu that though prima facie the Rajya Sabha election outcome might appear to be a victory for Mr. Antony, he had no moral right to remain in office as he had lost the support of 26 of his party MLAs. "Mr. Antony is on his way out. Therefore, it is better that he steps down," Mr. Bhargavan said.

The CPI(M) deputy legislature party leader, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said Mr. Antony would find it difficult to carry on as before with 66 MLAs ranged against him. He termed the UDF victory as one achieved through misuse of political and money power.

The RSP State secretary, T. J. Chandrachoodan, said the Rajya Sabha election had proved that the UDF was a wagon being pulled in different directions by the two factions in the Congress and the Front constituents.

The State could hardly expect stability or good governance from such a ruling arrangement, he said.

The NCP working committee member, A. C. Shanmughadas, also demanded Mr. Antony's resignation and said the Rajya Sabha election results were reflective of the absence of internal democracy in the Congress.

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