Abdullakutty to campaign for Congress

12 March 2009
New Delhi: Ousted Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP A.P. Abdullakutty Thursday said he would campaign for the Congress in the coming general elections and join the party soon.

Abdullakutty, sacked from the CPI-M last week on charges of violating party discipline while under suspension, met Defence Minister and Congress leader A.K. Antony here and said he would campaign for the victory of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala.

"I will work with Antony, I will work with the Congress party and I will work with the UDF," he said. "I will not contest Lok Sabha polls this time," Abdullakutty told IANS.

Abdullakutty said matters regarding the Congress membership would be discussed with the state leadership.

"I will join the Congress. Matters regarding the party membership and organisational position would be discussed with the party leadership."

Before meeting Antony, Abdullakutty had Wednesday discussed his future plan with state Congress leaders, including Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala and Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy.

Abdullakutty, who was the minority mascot of the CPI-M in Kerala, was suspended from the party for praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's skill in inviting more investment to Gujarat.

He continued to make remarks critical of the CPI-M while under suspension. On March 7, the Kannur district committee of the party ousted the two-time MP for refusing to accept party discipline.