Thiruvananthapuram: Rejecting the high command message to end factionalism, the Karunakaran camp in the Congress in Kerala today (June 30, 2004) decided to go ahead with parallel activities and not to co-operate with the reconstituted KPCC (Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee) headed by Thennala Balakrishna Pillai.

At a meeting of group leaders held at senior leader K Karunakaran's residence in Thiruvananthapuram, coinciding with Pillai's take-over as party chief in the State, the faction decided to convene conventions in all the districts to activate its supporters.

Piqued at 'total sidelining of the group' in the KPCC restructuring, the "I" faction also decided to open an office in the state capital to co-ordinate its parallel activities, "I" group sources said.

"We have no representation in the new KPCC. So we need not go and extend our co-operation to the new set-up," said K Muraleedharan, who after a three-year gap, openly attended the factional meet.

Hinting that the poll eve truce with Chief Minister A K Antony had come to an end, Muraleedharan said, "knowingly or unknowingly the Chief Minister was also part of the move to do away with the "I" faction."

The stand to be taken by the faction in the Assembly, which is in session, would be taken at a meeting of the group MLAs to be held later.

"I" group sources claimed that about 30 leaders attended the meet. However, P P Thankachan, who was dumped to pave the way for Pillai to take over, was conspicuous by his absence.