A day after Congress president Sonia Gandhi's [Images] said K Karunakaran's exit has helped the Congress in Kerala [Images], the veteran leader on Wednesday said she appeared to have made that comment under the influence of a caucus advising her on party matters in states.

"Did she herself make that statement? If so, then it is unbecoming of a person holding such a high position as that of the Congress president," Karunakaran, who recently broke away from the Congress and floated National Congress (Indira), said.

The octogenarian leader said he was pained that a member of the Nehru family, which he still held in high esteem and regard, made such a remark.

He said Sonia Gandhi did not properly reciprocate his affection for the "family" as she had often refused to meet or consult him on party affairs in Kerala.

Asked if he thought she was influenced by a caucus, Karunakaran said, "It is a fact, whether you call it a caucus or by any other name."

Holding that the Congress had been getting weakened under the present leadership, Karunakaran said defeat was in store for the party in the states where assembly polls are due in a year.

Karunakaran said all that he had done was to speak about issues like party elections with the larger interests of the Congress in mind.