By P. Sreekumaran
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The expansion plans of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF)suffered a major setback with the Kerala Congress-(M), an ally of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), ruling out leaving the Front.
The intense speculation which was rife for the last few weeks has ended when KC(M) chairman Jose K. Mani dismissing the rumours about the party shifting its allegiance to the opposition UDF.
Addressing newspersons in Kottayam, Mani, who had just returned from abroad, reaffirmed his party’s commitment to the LDF. There is no need for concern for anyone outside over the KC(M)’s position, he added. Mani admitted receiving invitations from many quarters. But he said the party was happy staying with the LDF. Moreover, there was no need to explain their stand every day, averred Mani. “Wherever the KC(M) holds sway, power remains with it,” he pointed out.
Speculation about the ‘ímminent’ exit of the KC(M) from the LDF had mounted when Mani stayed away from the day-long satyagraha the LDF had organized in the Kerala capital the other day in protest against the Union Governments discrimination against Kerala. Mani made it clear that he had gone abroad for personal reasons and had informed the Chief Minister about his inability to attend the satyagraha. All the KC(M) MLAs had participated in the satyagraha.
Mani also lashed out at the mainstream media for publishing misleading reports and narratives. There was no question of going back to the UDF which had insulted the KC(M) by expelling it from the front. He also dismissed with contempt reports of a rift with senior party leader and Water Resources Minister in the Kerala Cabinet Roshy Augustine regarding the alliance. “Roshy and I share a strong relationship. We discuss matters openly and any statements he makes are done after consulting with me”.
Roshy, on his part, had come out with a statement denying any rift and dismissing speculation that the Catholic Church is putting pressure on the KC(M) to end its five-year-old alliance with the LDF. It may be mentioned that the Church is demanding full implementation of the report of the JB Koshy Commission, which examined the social, financial and educational backwardness among Christians. Roshy, however, rebutted criticism over the issue by saying that the Chief Minister himself had reported that 17 departments had taken action on 220 recommendations of the Commission.
Jose also reassured the LDF leadership by starting that he himself would lead the LDF’s rally scheduled to be held shortly in central Kerala.
Both CPI(M) general secretary M. A. Baby and CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan also said the KC(M) was not in consultation with the rival front on shifting allegiance.
Mani’s categorical statement has dashed the hopes of the Congress about the KC(M)’s return to the UDF. His return to the UDF would have given a big boost to the front in central Kerala where the KC(M) has a strong base.
The Congress itself is divided over the issue. While one section favours KC(M)’s re-entry to the UDF, the rival faction is strongly opposed to it. The KC(Joseph group) is also not enthusiastic about the KC(M) returning to the UDF. It fears, rightly so, that KC-M, once it is back in the UDF, would deprive the Joseph faction of the seats it currently holds in the State Assembly. Also, the Congress would have found it extremely difficult to finalise seat-sharing and balance the competing claims of the rival Kerala Congress factions.
It is clear as daylight that the whole speculation about the ‘ímpending’ return of the KC(M) to the UDF has been raised by the Congress and the anti-LDF media outlets. The idea is to divert attention from the scandals dogging the Congress. The fact that the UDF is trying to engineer defections from the LDF shows the Front’s lack of confidence despite its victory in the local bodies elections. The UDF knows jolly well that assembly election battle is a different ball game altogether. The local bodies poll win is no guarantee of a repeat in the assembly election. And last but not the least, the CPI(M)-led LDF is down but not out. Its base remains intact. Hence its desperation to rope in more parties and allies of the LDF to its camp. The efforts have, however, suffered a serious setback with KC(M) chief Jose K. Mani’s firm rebuff to the UDF leaders.
Senior Congress leader and former home minister Ramesh Chennithala added another twist to the KC(M) episode by clearly voicing his displeasure over efforts to engineer defections from the LDF. Such attempts are unfair and unacceptable, he opined in an interaction with presspersons.
Meanwhile, Indian Union Muslim League(IUML) leader P. K. Kunhalikutty has gone on record that the UDF has not initiated seat-sharing talks and that reports doing the rounds over the KC(M)’s return were mere rumours. The IUML strongman’s assertion came after a brief meeting with Kerala Democratic Party(KDP) leader and Pala MLA Mani. C. Kappan. Reports have it that Kappan firmly told Kunhalikutty that he would not give up the Pala Assembly seat in the event of KC(M) chief Jose K. mani quitting the LDF and rejoining the UDF. He said he had no objection to Mani’s return to the UDF but would not leave the Pala seat únder any circumstances’. (IPA Service)
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