Of A Leader Without A Pause And A Few Rebels With A Cause

Is K. Karunakaran moving closer to Cliff House — his favourite residence asthe chief minister of Kerala — or is he standing on the edge of a cliff? Thoseclose to him are the least willing to hazard a guess.

But what was he doing in New Delhi when elections in his state have reached afeverish pitch?

The old warhorse of the Congress in Kerala should have been inhis state lending moral support to his partymen, who after a month-longfactional battle that has pulled them behind the LDF are very much in need ofhim. Instead, "a meeting with Sonia would bolster the mood in the Congresscamp," is how Karunakaran explained his arrival in the Capital on Tuesdaymorning.

"I am here to meet Sonia and withdraw my resignation from the CongressWorking Committee," he told this correspondent. Karunakaran had quit the postof a permanent invitee member in the CWC on April 7 after an "unfair"distribution of seats by the party high command had "displeased" him.

On Tuesday he had to be first content with the usual Sonia snub. She did nothave time to see him. He returned to meet her late at night and withdrew hisresignation. "Some principles were involved and those were discussed. Whateverdecisions would be taken will strengthen the Congress," he said of his meetingwith Sonia. Karunakaran said that he would be joining the campaign on his returnto Kerala.

It is the real purpose behind this visit that baffles everyone. "He couldhave withdrawn his resignation anytime later or he could have sent his letterfrom Kerala," say sources inside the Congress.

Back in Kerala his comeback early this month has put old rival A.K. Antony insuch a stupor that he is yet to begin campaigning in Chertala, the constituencyhe is contesting from. The Leader has also reminded the party high command inDelhi that he is no pushover and that they can ill-afford to ignore him likethey did with others in the Congress who were getting old.

The Congress I group (Karunakaran’s) – A group (Antony’s) wrangle overseat-sharing in Kerala had a lot more to it than meets the eye. What many havemissed to see is the big step that Karunakaran has taken towards the chiefminister’s chair. And nobody knows it better than Antony himself. Even though‘St Antony of The Beaches’ has begun sermonizing on the advantages of theUDF-BJP-PDP electoral alliance, it has had little impact on the politicalequations within the Congress. "We will not say no to votes offeredunconditionally by anyone who wants to put an end to the LDF rule." This ishow Antony has been beginning his election speeches these past few days. For therecord BJP has not fielded any candidate in Chertala. Neither has the PDP, theextremist Muslim group led by Abdul Nassar Madani, who is now lodged in theCoimbatore jail.

That Karunakaran would use all the rebels at his disposal to teach Antony alesson in not only his constituency but a few choice others too is a foregoneconclusion. Unlike Antony, Karunakaran has immense confidence in his supporters.Because Karunakaran has little history of having deserted or denounced thoseclose to him. You won’t find a V.M. Sudheeran or a Cherian Philip in theKarunakaran camp. If you ask what about Ramesh Chennithala, the answer isanother question. When was Chennithala ever on the Leader’s side even when hegroomed the young one’s political career and showed him the way to theParliament?

Karunakaran knew that anyone who followed him so blindly cannot betrusted. The ones to be trusted are the ones like him.Even during the recentmeetings to sort out the seats at Kerala House in Delhi, Chennithala could beseen smiling by the side of Antony. However, Antony, till the last day, did notreciprocate the gestures of the little man from Kottayam. An unpetrubedChennithala, like a true student of Karunakaran, played his part much too well.

On the eve of the discussion he made a trip from his 5, Talkatora Roadresidence at 9 p.m. to 10, Janpath. He met Soniaji and returned to sleep thenight off peacefully. The next day when there was a very heated and animateddiscussion at Kerala House Chennithala was absent. He was, instead, slippinginto his afternoon siesta. On that day, a Friday, he could do that. When theCongress high command announced the seats Chennithala had nine.

And this, withhindsight, could turn out to be Anthony’s loss and not Karunakaran’s. BecauseChennithala, as the past has shown, has a mind of his own. And the fact of thematter, as in the case of his erstwhile Leader, is that only Chennithala knowswhy Chennithala does certain things and when.

The second time when the high command sat down to pacify an angry Karunakaranit did not take anything away from Chennithala. Neither did the Vayalar grouplose any from the five allotted to it. It was Antony who had to make way. Thusin the end both (I) group and (A) group ended with 37 seats each.

On April 14,Vishu day — the annual festival that heralds the Kerala new year, Karunakaranmust have prayed hard and for long at the Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayoor. Forthis is his one last chance to stay afloat in politics whether in Kerala or atthe centre. He has been out of the limelight for sometime now (save for thePalmolein scam) due to ill-health and Muralidharan — the same son who is nowthe KPCC president thanks to none other than Antony himself.

Karunakaran may not remember how Antony made his exit at a crucial time whenthe Kerala PCC leaders had gathered at the Kerala House to decide on their partycandidate from Kozhikode. The vote that Antony did not give wrested the issue in Murali’sfavour. Murali became an MP and the party vice-president. Karunakaran believes in keeping his memory clean especially when itcomes to concessions made by his foes.

"I have taken oath as the Chief Minister four times, don't you think it isenough? Even then, whatever the party says I will follow but that does not meanI am keen'', he said at his 9, Krishna Menon Marg residence in the capital.There lies the catch and the caveat. For Antony and co.

Whether it is the twist in the middle of the tale, or the macabre manner inwhich it began (a seat for Karunakaran’s daughter Padmaja), or the reversal atthe end, Antony surely finds himself in the backseat.

This Easter, Kerala celebrated two resurrections. One of them was Karunakaran’s— the longevity of which will be known soon after the elections are over in Kerala.