'Infighting affects Cong'

AK Antony speaks about the differences between K Karunakaran and him.

There have been several attempts to topple him. But Kerala Chief Minister AK Antony has survived. While Kerala Congress has off late been in news for all the wrong reasons, due credit has to be given to Antony for buying peace with archrival and Kerala Congress heighyweight K Karunakaran. In this interview he spells out the problems and challenges faced by Congress party in his state.

Your party is reduced to a laughing stock in Kerala. Do you think that people will forget the one-and-a-half years of bitter drama and back you again?

HT Image

It is true the party has suffered due to perennial infighting. The same people who gave us a brute majority in the assembly (100 seats out of 140) are extremely agitated. I think leaders have already learnt a lesson. I am visiting all 140 constituencies. If need be, I will campaign jointly with senior leader K Karunakaran to salvage lost ground.

Is your ceasefire with Karunakaran only an 'election special'?

I don't think those bitter scenes will ever be re-enacted. I suffered a lot to avert a split in the party. Now at least there is unity at the leadership level. It is a gargantuan task to reach this unity to the grassroots. We all are trying. There is no cakewalk in a single seat and the battle is really tough. The party can achieve success only with unity.

That is not true. Winnability was the only criteria. Being a senior leader, the party has always respected Karunakaran's sentiments. For much-needed peace in the party and government, we were forced to make certain adjustments.

You mean just to cement your position, you went out of the way to back Karunakaran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal?

I did not say so. Padmaja was in politics for long. In fact she tried for an assembly seat last time, but failed. Since her father vacated Munkundapuram to become an RS member, she raised her claim and the party accepted it.

Why do you blame the CPM for all the problems afflicting your party?

The CPM has a polished and sophisticated face in Delhi but in Kerala they are opportunists to the core. You know well how the party tried to split the Congress and topple me. I am wary of the CPM's support to the Congress at the Centre.