Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran)

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Democratic Indira Congress, Karunakaran (DIC(K)) was a political party in Kerala, India. DIC(K) was founded at a meeting in Thrissur by the K. Karunakuran faction of the Indian National Congress on May 1, 2005. Initially it was called National Congress (Indira), but the name was changed DIC(K) for registration purposes in August of the same year. (Report from The Hindu here)

Karunakuran's son K. Muraleedharan is the current party president.

[edit] History

The party was formed as a result of internal problems in the Congress Party. The break was preceded by much acrimony within the ruling Congress Party, due to perceived slights to Karunakaran, disregarding his lifelong services to the party. Following its split, the DIC(K) has been warmly received into the heart of the opposition Left Democratic Front combine. This acceptance has all but guaranteed DIC(K)'s return to power as the unpopular ruling combine is likely to lose badly in the assembly elections, which are due shortly.

The party has however not been void of internal dissent. Ahead of the 2005 panchayat elections, DIC(K) aligned with the Left Democratic Front. However, ahead of the 2006 Kerala legislative assembly elections the party entered into an understanding with the United Democratic Front to try to ensure K. Muraleedharan's victory in the assembly polls. That led to a grouping within the party forming a 'DIC(K) Left Forum'. The Forum has plans of founding a new party after the elections.(Report from The Hindu here) Recently, DIC has decided to merge with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lead by Sharad Pawar. This has resulted in a chaos in DIC and many of the leaders of the DIC have decided to go back to the Indian National Congress.

[edit] Party Flag

The party's tricolour flag has the charkha and picture of Indira Gandhi as symbols.