From correspondents in Kerala, India, 05:00 PM IST

Thiruvananthapuram - Former Kerala chief minister K. Karunakaran's Democratic Indira Congress (DIC-K), which plans to merge with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), suffered a jolt Saturday as the former Kerala Congress (Jacob) party announced its decision to break away.

The KC (J), led by T.M. Jacob and Johnny Nellore, wants to work with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). 'It has been decided that the Kerala Congress (Jacob) party would now be revived and we will work alongside the Congress-led UDF,' Jacob told reporters here.

The KC (J) had merged with the DIC-K Aug 21, 2005.

'The political scenario in 2005 made us leave the UDF and today's circumstances are totally different and so we decided to return,' said Jacob.

Jacob has served as a minister several times and has been a legislator seven times. However, he faced his first defeat in the May 2006 assembly polls representing Karunakaran's party.

Nellore, a three-time legislator, also lost in the last assembly polls. The party claimed to be unaware of the DIC-K's proposed merger with the NCP. 'We are not at all aware of any discussion having taken place in the DIC-K on the merger with the NCP,' said Jacob.

He added that the party executive would meet Sep 14 in Kottayam, south Kerala.

DIC-K President K. Muraleedharan insisted that KC (J)'s departure could not be termed as a split in the party. 'This can never be termed as a split because the rank and file owe their allegiance to Karunakaran. Those who came to us when they were humiliated have left and that is all.'

Meanwhile, UDF Convenor P.P. Thankachen said no talks on KC (J)'s entry into the front have been held as nobody had approached them on the issue.

'If they approach us, the UDF would decide what needs to be done,' said Thankachen.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)