The tie-up between the UDF and DIC(K) brokered by IUML strong man P.K. Kunhalikutty is fizzling out because of the strong anti-Congress and anti-Karunakaran feelings existing in both the camps. After prolonged discussions and with the active concurrence of Sonia, (Karunakaran who left the Congress after attacking Sonia and describing her a foreigner, had to eat humble pie and surrender when he had to issue statement accepting Sonia as the natural inheritor of the Nehru family) a deal was struck between Congress and DIC (K). Apart from the 18 seats alloted, the agreement signed by Muraleedharan and Ramesh Chennithala, gave DIC(K) the power to contest on its symbol of Television, but stipulated unconditional support to UDF and merger with Congress after three months.
This merger agreement signed by Muraleedharan without the concurrence of Karunakaran or the DIC(K) has created a rebellion in the breakaway party. Several state and district leaders have outrightly opposed the merger move. Protesting against this several have left the party or joined the Congress. Meanwhile there is strong opposition within the Congress for bringing back Karunakaran and his son. They say that both father and son have created enough problems for the Congress during past five years due to which they could not concentrate on administration and development. As a result several Congress candidates have filed nominations in seats alloted to DIC(K), especially in sitting seats like Aranmula and Badagara, Quilandy, etc. Similarly DIC(K) has put up candidates against Congress candidates at Konni, Ranni, Adoor and Kalloopara. Moreover faction fight within the DIC(K) is also reaching uncontrollable levels. Protesting against non-issue of seat to Peethambara Kurup in Thiruvananthapuram (West), his supporters are planning to put him as a rebel candidate against official candidate Shobana George.
The IULM had brokered the UDF-DIC(K) tie-up to get the support of Karunakaran in certain pockets of Malappuram. That was also the reason why they gave a seat to Muraleedharan in its stronghold of Koduvally. But with the open warfare between the Congress and the DIC(K) and within the DIC(K) reaching extreme levels, it remains to be seen whether Kunhalikutty has bitten much more than what he can chew.
