THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A conflict has erupted within the Congress over the participation of the party leaders in the seminars that will be held in connection with the CPM party congress. KPCC President K Sudhakaran said that if any Congress leader attends CPM seminars in violation of the KPCC ban, they will face severe action.

"The people of Kerala are shedding tears due to the CPM's stance in the SilverLine project. Many people, including women, are deeply concerned. It was in this context that the KPCC banned Congress leaders from attending the CPM's seminar. The leadership took the decision respecting the people's sentiments. Anyone who is adamant about attending the seminars can do so after getting permission from Sonia Gandhi," Sudhakaran said.

Earlier, the CPM had invited Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and KV Thomas to attend seminars at the CPM party congress. While Tharoor was invited to a seminar on 'Challenges faced by secularism', KV Thomas was invited to a seminar on 'state- central governments relations.'

The KPCC had yesterday directed Congress leaders not to attend CPM seminars. Shashi Tharoor, however, said that the party would not ban him from attending the CPM party congress seminar and that he had not received any instruction from the KPCC to do so.