Saturday, August 27 2005 15:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: Asserting that only the United Democratic Front (UDF) could ensure economic development and social harmony in Kerala, All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Sonia Gandhi today (Aug 27, 2005) said there was no contradiction in Congress's approach towards the Left parties as the challenges at the national level and in the state were different.

The biggest challenge at the national level was to defeat communal forces for which the support of the Left parties was essential but the party was opposed to the Left in Kerala because UDF's aim was to ensure economic development and social harmony, Sonia Gandhi said after inaugurating the new building at the KPCC headquarters Indira Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram .

Alluding to the recent split in the party in the state, she said it was absolutely essential to subordinate individual ambitions to the larger interests of the party and the interests of the UDF coalition it headed.

"It may appear contradictory that while we get the support of the Left parties at the Centre we are opposed to the Left in Kerala. But there is no contradiction as the national challenges are different from those in Kerala where the programmes and policies of the UDF can lead the state to development and social harmony," Sonia Gandhi said.

In her brief speech, the AICC chief lauded Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Ramesh Chennithala for taking up a cross-state road campaign to activate the party.

She said UDF could win the coming panchayat elections and makes a comeback to power in next year's Assembly polls by strengthening unity in the party and the coalition.

"Chaitanya Yatra undertaken by the KPCC President was extremely successful. This mass-contact programme has helped us not only to stay united but also to hear from people what they expect from the Congress and UDF Government," she said.

"I have no doubt that we will continue to win. We will be meeting all challenges," she said and wanted the party workers to vigorously propagate what the UDF had done for the people during its rule.

She said due to the farsightedness of former Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi, the country could not only make strides in science and technology but also strengthen the grassroot level democracy through panchayati raj institutions.

She also inaugurated the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Kerala Studies, sponsored by the party.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, AICC general secretary Ahmed Patel, CWC member A K Antony and party leader Anil Sastry, Vayalar Ravi and former KPCC presidents Thennala Balakrishna Pillai and C V Padmarajan were also present.