TRIVANDRUM, 13 April 2005 — The Kerala Congress party inched closer to a split yesterday with dissident leader K. Karunakaran announcing a convention of his loyalists and claiming they will be the “real” Congress.

“One thing is certain: You can expect a Congress party which is alive and kicking. Whatever the name, it will be the real Congress,” a combative Karunakaran told reporters at this residence here.

“All those who do not fall in line will have to go out of the real Congress,” added the former chief minister, whose son K. Muraleedharan was expelled from the Congress party on disciplinary grounds last week.

“Everyone will be able to take part in the convention,” he said, adding “I will decide everything. I am fit to go ahead.”

He parried questions on whether he would split the Congress by forming a new party, but maintained that Kerala could soon expect the “real” Congress.

Asked whether he would resign his Rajya Sabha seat, which he had won on the Congress ticket, he said it meant little to him.

“I have been in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, in the Cabinet, outside the Cabinet. The Rajya Sabha does not mean anything at all,” Karunakaran said.

Karunakaran said that the silence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who had not spoken to him before Muraleedharan was expelled, hurt him deeply.

“She should have contacted me considering my seniority and loyalty to the Nehru family. I had told her that I will do everything to keep peace in the party and assured her that I would never split the Congress party.”

“But she never cared to call me and on several occasions I was even denied an appointment to meet her. Anyway, it is OK,” Karunakaran said.

Asked if Congress legislators supporting him would be present when he announces his future plans, Karunakaran retorted that party workers were more important.

“What, after all, are MLAs? More important are the party workers. Even if the MLAs decide to come with me, nothing will happen to their (assembly) status. I know how to tackle such things.”

He also urged the media to desist from carrying reports about the purported differences between his son Muraleedharan and daughter Padmaja Venugopal.

“Some people are trying to spread canards. Please don’t try to split my family,” Karunakaran said.

Media reports indicate that Padmaja is not keen on leaving the Congress because she fears Muraleedharan will sideline her in any new unit or party that Karunakaran is likely to forge.