Thiruvananthapuram: Even as senior Congress leader K Karunakaran today (Jan 28, 2004) announced his decision to float a new party, his son and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Muraleedharan said he would continue in the Congress and abide by the high command decision on the Kerala crisis.

"As a disciplined Congressman, I will continue in the party. I will abide by the high command decision, whether it is to my personal liking or not," Muraleedharan told reporters shortly after Karunakaran announced floating of a new party next month.

The KPCC chief, who skipped the convention after extending support to its preparations, said, "No one at the convention has said that the party is going to split."

Muraleedharan said he had informed central leaders Pranab Mukherjee and R K Dhawan of his decision to remain in the party.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony said he did not think that the Congress in Kerala would split.

"I am optimistic that the party will not split," an unruffled Antony told reporters after a Cabinet meeting when asked about his arch-rival Karunakaran's announcement on floating a new party next month.

Antony said KPCC president K Muraleedharan had told him that he would not be part of the move to split the party and would stand by the high command decision.