Kochi, July 27: AICC general secretary Ahmed Patel, who arrived here from Delhi, is likely to hold discussions with senior Congress leader K Karunakaran later this evening. Patel, who reached Kochi in the afternoon, drove straight to the St Albert's School Grounds, where Congress MP George Eden's body has been kept for the public to pay homage. He laid a wreath on behalf of the AICC.

The AICC leader also spoke to Karunakaran at the Albert's school grounds.

KPCC sources told a news agency Ahmed would be leaving for Delhi tomorrow morning and would be meeting Karunakaran later this evening at his residence. The proposed meeting assumes importance in the light of demand made by Karunakaran for the removal of A K Antony from the post of the Chief Minister.

Karunakaran had earlier threatened to split the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Kerala by asking MLAs loyal to his 'I' faction to sit as a separate bloc in the assembly and vote against the appropriation bill. However, he later backtracked from taking any harsh steps but stuck to his demand on Antony's removal.

Bureau Report