Kerala politics in general and Congress politics in particular will never be the same with the exit from the scene of Mr Karunakaran, who bestrode the State’s political scene like a Colossus for over seven decades.

An immediate upshot of the departure of the Congress patriarch, who was a brilliant administrator and Chief Minister known for his quick decisions and speedy implementation of the same, will be the realignment of groups within the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee.

No doubt, there will be a tussle for wooing the Karunakaran loyalists within the party by the two dominant factions in the KPCC – the A group led by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Oommen Chandy and the Vishala I group headed by KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala.

There is also the possibility of the Karunakaran supporters preferring to retain their identity an refusing to be enmeshed in group politics any longer now that their ‘Leader’, as Karunakaran is fondly referred to by his followers, is no more.

Whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure: the factional feud within the Congress in Kerala could acquire added stridency, especially with the Kerala Assembly elections hardly five months away.

It also remains to be seen what fate will befall Karunakaran’s son, Mr K. Muraleedharan, who is waiting to be back in Congress. The departed Congress stalwart failed to realize his last wish during his lifetime: the re-entry of his son into the Congress.

Murali had strengthened his case for readmission into Congress by supporting the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the recently-concluded local bodies elections. And he did prove his strength, especially in Kozhikode, his home district, by helping the UDF to give the LDF a tough fight in the district and recover a lot of lost ground.

There is a section within the State Congress which favours an early return of Karunakaran’s son to the parent body. Much will also depend on the stand of senior Congress leader and Defence Minister A K Antony, who wields considerable influence with the party high command.

If the Congress takes an early and positive decision in the matter, that will go a long way in firming up the UDF, which is gearing up for the crucial assembly elections. And that is possibly the best tribute the party can pay to Mr Karunakaran. (IPA)