KPCC president M M Hassan opens a Pandora's box

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KPCC president M. M. Hassan's revelation in Kozhikode that A. K. Antony had objected to the move in 1994 to dethrone the then chief minister K. Karunakaran has opened a Pandora’s box. Political circles were caught off guard, and many wonder if there was a tactical move to appease Mr Antony and snub Oommen Chandy, his henchman for long. Former health minister K. K. Ramachandran Master, a Karunakaran loyalist who has come out with an autobiography, Ningalenne Communis-takki, Ningalenne BJP Aakki, says Mr Hassan has endorsed what he has been saying all along.

“When Mr Antony was in power, Congress alone had 62 seats in 2001. Later under Mr Chandy as CM and Ramesh Chennithala as party president, the number dwindled to 22,” he said. Mr Antony had to quit after the 2004 national elections that brought his Congress party back to power but drew a blank in Kerala. The latest controversy has not gone down well with Mr Antony’s ‘A’ group which now considers Mr Chandy as their leader. “We ignore his statement. He was also party to it,” a prominent ‘A’ group leader told DC.

Sources close to Karunakaran's heir K. Muraleedharan suspect Mr Hassan has a secret pact with Mr Chennithala to continue as PCC president. But to many, it's unbelievable. “This is nothing but a calculated move. Or he has Mr Chandy's blessings,” said a source close to Mr Muraleedharan. Chandy said the best person to answer is Mr Hassan himself. Mr Hassan told reporters in Kozhikode that only on such solemn occasion (Karunakaran’s death anniversary commemoration) can he go down the memory lane.