Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 08: A day after the UDF partners mounted pressure on Congress high command to sort out problems in Congress in Kerala, LDF opposition today demanded resignation of Chief Minister A K Antony holding that he had lost the trust of allies, even as senior leader K Karunakaran maintained that his faction would go ahead with its 'minimum agenda' of leadership change. Rejecting the LDF demand, Antony acolyte and UDF convener Oommen Chandy said the partners' move was in fact reiteration of their total trust in Antony.

Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said Antony had lost the right to remain in power in the wake of the coalition partners throwing out the proposal to seek a confidence vote.

"The rejection of the trust vote move amounted to expression of their lack of confidence in Antony and he should quit without even waiting for a moment," the CPI-M strongman told reporters. A belligerent Karunakaran said in Kochi that nothing short of a leadership change was acceptable to his faction.

Picking holes in the LDF contention, Chandy said it was clear from yesterday's conclave that Antony enjoyed their total trust.

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Vayalar Ravi said the high command was keen on settling the Congress troubles without hurting the sentiments of anyone, which, however, should not be construed as the central leadership's 'weakness'. Bureau Report