Wednesday, May 18 2005 08:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi yesterday (May 17, 2005) sought to portray a less gloomy picture for the party in Kerala where the party suffered a split saying, "Damages will be less now than the damage" former party leader K Karunakaran had done by remaining in the organization.

In Kerala, "we have challenges and hopefully the party would go ahead with its policies and programmes", she told reporters in New Delhi.

"Damages will be less now than the damage he (Karunakaran had done from within the party). We have charted out our specific programmes for Kerala and if all workers give their 100 per cent cooperation, I am sure Congress will come back to power in the State," which goes to Assembly polls next year, Sonia said.

She said the party leaders had made lot of efforts to persuade Karunakaran but every time he went ahead with his rallies and programmes, ignoring them.