Chandy firm on stand

Rejecting expelled former KPCC Chief K Muraleedharan's demand that he express open regret for the "hardline" stance he had taken towards the problems in the Congress, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said he had only followed the high command's directives.

"I don't mind expressing regret if I am convinced that I did something wrong. This has been my approach all along. But here, I have only gone by what the high command, the KPCC and the Congress legislature felt necessary," Chandy told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

"I don't long for a split in the party. I am ready to do anything that would not harm the party's interests," he said.

Asked about his one-time mentor AK Antony's statement that he did not agree with chandy's hardline approach, the chief minister said none would question antony's sincerity and motives.

However, the malady afflicting the party could have been solved through a "nice procedure" two years back, when the Karunakaran faction put up a rebel candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls, he said.

"A malady that could have been removed by using a needle has developed into a serious affliction requiring the use of a spade," he added.