Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader K Karunakaran, who threatened to split the party in Kerala by floating a new outfit, today (Jan 29, 2004) chose to maintain a studied silence, even as major United Democratic Front (UDF) partners swung into action to mollify the veteran and his son and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Muraleedharan cosied up further to Chief Minister A K Antony.

Karunakaran, who at a group convention yesterday had announced the launch of a new party by next month, refused to speak to the media and sent a message through his aides that he had "nothing to say".

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty and Revenue Minister K M Mani (KC-M), who held an hour-long meeting with Karunakaran at his residence, said the senior leader had not taken any final decision.

However, close camp followers of Karunakaran kept on stating that the message from the leader so far was that he was firm on his plans announced yesterday.

Muraleedharan, who had disassociated himself from his father's plan to float a new party amid reports that he was likely to be inducted into the Antony Cabinet, held a 30-minute discussion with the Chief Minister this evening.

After the talks, he told reporters that he was confident that Karunakaran would not leave the party. "He is still with the Congress and will continue to be in the party."

Antony also sought to play down the developments in the party, saying, "The Congress is a family and we will all become one when a necessity arises."