Saturday, May 7 2005 19:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Palakkad: The formation of National Congress-Indira (NC-I) by senior leader K Karunakaran marked the end of long drawn out factionalism in Congress in Kerala and it would reinforce the party's unity and stability, All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Ramesh Chennithala said today (May 7, 2005).

Addressing a press meet in Palakkad, he said that the departure of Karunakaran and his son K Muraleedharan could not be seen as a "split" as only minuscule section of party workers had joined them.

"It is a historical fact that the Congress workers in Kerala cannot be part of any alliance with the Communist Party Of India Marxist (CPM). So, those few Congress workers who have left the party to join the NC-I would return to the parent organization soon," he said.

The decision of Kerala Congress Pillai and Jacob factions to leave the United Democratic Front (UDF) would not have any impact on the ruling coalition. The leaders of the two minor parties had "flouted the commonly accepted norms" followed while working in coalition, the Congress leader added.