Discontent seems to be simmering in Kerala Congress (M), which recently severed its ties with the opposition Congress-led UDF, with a powerful group in KC(M) today arguing that the party needed to be a part of either the UDF or the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF, for its survival.
Less than a week after KC-M announced its decision to snap the over three-decade old ties with UDF, citing "humiliation" meted out by Congress, a faction headed by P J Joseph has sought to nip any move from within the party to forge a tie up with BJP, saying there was no question of "sacrificing the interests of the people" supporting the party.
"There is an importance of political fronts in Kerala politics. Kerala Congress will have to become a partner of the state's coalition politics," party MLA Mons Joseph, representing constituency Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam district, told PTI.
On possibilities of KC-M forging a tie-up with BJP in the state, Mons, also a former state minister, said Kerala Congress worked on the basis of certain principles and is also committed to protect interests of people supporting it.
"The party has not taken any decision on joining any political front. At the same time, we cannot sacrifice the interests of a large section of people supporting us," he said.
Kerala Congress wields considerable clout among the farming community and Syrian Catholics concentrated in certain parts of central Kerala.
Mons, a political disciple of veteran Kerala Congress leader and Thodupuzha MLAP J Joseph, however, dismissed suggestions of differences within KC-M over the decision taken at the Charalkkunnu camp last week.
"There are no differences within the party over the Charalkkunnu camp decision. We all unanmiously arrived at the decision to keep equal distance with all political fronts and to function as a separate bloc in the state Assembly. We stand by it," he said, adding KC-M's future course of action will be discussed in its next meeting.
Joseph endorsed Mons' views, saying "certainly being part of a political front is a need" for the party.
KC(M) supremo K M Mani was quick to react to the seeming discontent within the party and said "there are no differences within the party" over the issue.
"I am not saying there is no importance for coalition politics. We are standing alone in Kerala politics. It was a decision taken unanimously (at the two-day party camp held in Charalkkunnu last week). Let us gather strength first," he told reporters in his native Pala.
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