DIC-K merges with NCP

The Democratic Indira Congress of veteran leader K Karunakaran merged on Sunday with the Nationalist Congress Party at a convention.

The ailing NCP leader and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, could not make it, but Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Maharashtra minister Chagan Bhujbal, general secretaries D P Tripathi and Peethambaran Master, were among the NCP leaders who attended the meeting.

Addressing the convention, DIC-K founder leader K Karunakaran said he would not abandon party workers who had stood by him through thick and thin.

The merger would ensure that the party reaches greater heights, he said.

"The coming days and months are crucial. We will teach UDF leader Oommen Chandy a lesson," Karunakaran said.

Patel said a new change would come about in the country in the days to come with the coming together of the two parties.

The NCP will have a great role to play in this, he said.

The NCP would work to fulfill the vision of Karunakaran for the development of Kerala and the entire country, he said. The NCP's flag was handed over by Praful Patel to K Muraleedharan, DIC-K president, signifying the merger.