Bury the hatchet, AK Antony tells senior Kerala Congress Leaders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader AK Antony on Friday expressed displeasure over the 'rift' among top party leaders in the Kerala unit and told them to be ready to make compromises for strengthening the party's grass root base. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC President VM Sudheeran and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala should be ready to compromise for the party's growth, Antony said addressing a function organised to commemorate the 6th death anniversary of K Karunakaran at the KPCC office here.

"The desire of myself and party high command is that Chandy, Chennithala and Sudheeran lead the party together," he said at the function in which Sudheeran was among those present.

The remarks of Antony, a senior Congress Working Committee member, assume significance as they come in the backdrop of differ ences among top leaders over recent selection of new DCC presidents.

Apparently unhappy over the selection of new DCC chiefs, Chandy has been keeping away from party meetings.

Antony, also a former chief minister of the state, said he and Karunakaran had reached agreements on several party issues even though they had differences. "We continued to lead the party for 31 years as friends and rivals," he said.