No crisis in UDF: KM Mani

Says he is not interested in becoming chief minister by sabotaging the UDF ministry

Deviating from its earlier stand that it would not topple the Oommen Chandy ministry, the CPI (M) today said it was closely watching the political developments in the state and would take "appropriate" steps according to the situation.

CPI(M) polit bureau member S Ramchandran Pillai said the party would in no way act to prolong the United Democratic Front (UDF) rule in the state.

Later Pannyan Ravindran, secretary of the state wing of CPI, also said the chance of Kerala Congress (Mani) joining the Left Democratic Front (LDF) could not be ruled out. Kerala Congress(M) is the third largest partner in the ruling UDF.

These statements are said to be a marked deviation from the Left Front's erstwhile stand towards the United Front ministry. So far, both CPI and CPI(M) have maintained that they were not interested in dislodging the Chandy ministry.

The CPI (M) is said to be targeting KM Mani, finance minister and Kerala Congress (M) chief, by employing the strategy of giving him the chief minister post. However, Mani has openly said he would continue with the UDF and was not interested in becoming the chief minister by sabotaging the UDF ministry.

"KC-M is a partner of the UDF, which is moving forward with clear policies. We have not asked for leadership change in UDF and there is no crisis in government warranting a leadership change. I do not wish to be chief minister in a devious way," Mani said.

Pinarayi Vijayan, state secretary of CPI(M) had also denied this move saying it was a creation of the media

The political scenario of Kerala has changed as the image of the ministry has been tarnished due to the alleged involvement of the CM's office in the solar power scam.