Octogenarian leader K Karunakaran’s hopes of returning to the Congress party seem to have been dashed for the moment with AICC general secretary Mohsina Kidwai stating here that it was not on the party’s agenda.

She was speaking to mediapersons while wrapping up her three day visit to the State in the context of the campaign run by a section of the leaders to welcome the ‘leader’ back to the party. Mrs Kidwai held wide-ranging consultations with party leaders though she denied she had discussed the Karunakaran issue.

Replying to questions, she said the decision on Mr Karunakaran’s case should come from the high command.

However, it had not yet come before the central leadership. She also said that party leaders should stop issuing statement on this subject.

Sources said Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy who does not share the best of relations with the Karunakaran family continued his stiff resistance to the idea. Mr Chandy is reported to have told Mrs Kidwai that the party should not be held responsible for the fallout of Karunakaran’s return.

Though State PCC chief Ramesh Chennithala has not been as strident, he has also been toeing Mr Chandy’s line. The renewed vigour of the “take-back Karunakaran’’ campaign is also being viewed in the backdrop of the growing resentment to the Chandy-Chennithala axis which had been holding an iron grip on the party in recent times. Ramesh had been saying that everyone who accepts Sonia Gandhi’s leadership is welcome.

What appeared to have turned favourable for Mr Karunakaran were his recent statements in praise of Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s leadership. However, Mrs Kidwai’s statement reflects the strong sentiments prevailing in the party from key leaders like Chandy.

In the last few days, several leaders close to Mr Antony led by PCC vice-president Mullapally Ramachandran and former minister V M Sudheeran had put the issue in the limelight saying it merited serious consideration. Till recently, the PCC has not had any discussion on the touchy issue.