In a setback to Congress led opposition UDF, Kerala Congress(M), which recently severed its over 30-year-old ties with the front, today submitted a letter to the Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, requesting him to accept the party as a separate block in the state Assembly.
The letter was signed by party chief whip Roshy Augustine, and Legislative party secretary Mons Joseph, MLA.
The party, which contested as a UDF partner in the May 16 assembly polls, has six MLAs in the 140-member Assembly.
The decision of Kerala Congress(M) to sit as a separate block is a setback for the UDF. Its number in the Assembly will now come down to 41.
In its camp at Charalkkunnu in August, the KC(M), led by former Kerala Finance Minister K M Mani, had announced it's decision to severe its ties with UDF, of which it was a part for more than three decades and that it's party MLAs would sit as a separate block in the assembly.
"Based on this political decision, we have submitted the letter to the Speaker, requesting him to accept the Kerala Congress (M) as a separate block in the Assembly.
"We have requested the Speaker to make necessary arrangements in this regard before the commencement of the Assembly session on September 26," Mons Joseph said.
The party had also said it would be "equidistant" from the UDF, ruling CPI-M-led LDF and BJP-led NDA.
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