Expressing concern at the "growing influence of communal forces" even in Kerala, where secularism had struck strong roots, Congress leader A.K. Antony said on Friday people's faith in the party's commitment to secularism appeared to have "eroded slightly" and it was vital to regain the confidence of the masses to move forward.



Antony said this while addressing a meeting held at the KPCC headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram in honour of late Congress stalwart C.K. Govindan Nair, who played a central role in Kerala politics during the 1950s.

"There appears to be slight erosion in people's faith in secularism of the Congress. This has to be examined. It is vital for the party to regain the faith of the people to move forward," he said.

"There appears to be doubts in the minds of some people that while professing and practising secularism, the party has some slants... that all sections of people do not receive equal justice. This has to be removed," PTI quoted him as saying.

Senior party leaders and functionaries including KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran recalled the services rendered by Nair.