Saturday, April 30 2005 18:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thrissur: The stage is set for the crucial convention of the Karunakaran faction in the Congress in Kerala, where the veteran leader is expected to announce the formation of a new outfit before his supporters in the State in Thrissur tomorrow (May 1, 2005).

The convention, to be inaugurated by Karunakaran, would elect the president of the new formation and adopt political and economic resolutions amplifying its policies, organising committee chairman and former MLA, V Balaram, said.

Karunakaran's son K Muraleedharan, who was recently expelled from the Congress, is among the leaders slated to address the convention.

A big 'Pandal', covering about 40,000-sq.ft area, had been put up at the Palace Grounds in the town, which has been the political turf of the veteran leader for over half-a-century.

The Pandal could accommodate 15,000 delegates drawn from the grassroot level units and the stage could seat 200 functionaries.

Five select delegates from each of the 1,160 Mandalam Congress Committees would be attending the convention.

The faction had already formed "parallel" committees in all the districts.