In an embarrassment
to the ruling Congress-led UDF in Kerala ahead of coming assembly elections, one of its partnersKerala Congress (M) today split with a group of rebels led by former MP Francis George walking out of the party accusing its chief K M Mani of functioning unilaterally.
Addressing a press conference here, Antony Raju, a former MLA and a member of the party's high-power committee, said he along with Francis George and Dr K C Joseph, also a former legislator, have decided to leave the party as Mani was functioning in an "unilateral manner".
Dynastic rule is prevailing in the KC-M with Mani trying to make his son Jose K Mani, MP, as the leader of the party, Raju said adding, it is difficult for any Kerala Congress worker with self-respect to continue in the party.
Another leader P C Joseph, a known opponent of Mani, also left the party.
All these leaders were part of Kerala Congress (Joseph) led by Water Resource Minister P J Joseph before it merged with KC (M) ahead of assembly elections in 2011.
Reacting to the development, Joseph said he would remain with the KC-M and the UDF and rejected the charge that Mani was planning a tie-up with BJP.
Earlier in the day, sources close George, son of Kerala Congress founder leader K M George, said in Kochi that their leader was cut up with Mani's bid to promote his son.
Raju also alleged there was no inner party democracy or discussions in the party over several issues faced by people.
He alleged that Mani, who resigned as finance minister over the bar bribery scam, was trying to take the party into the fold of BJP and Sangh parivar.
"It is a total deviation from party's ideology for which it
was formed", he added.
He said they would revive their outfit Kerala Congress (J) at a meeting to be held here on March 9 and decide the future course of action.
"We have not carried out anydiscussion with LDF leaders", Raju said when asked whether the new party would work along with LDF in the coming polls.
K M George is the founder leader of Kerala Congress, a political party which later went through several splits ever since its formation in 1964.
(REOPENS MDS 3)
Reacting to the development in KC(M), Chief Minister
Oommen Chandy said it would not in any way affect the ruling UDF and its prospects in the coming polls.
"KC-M led by K M Mani is a major partner in UDF. The party became stronger when the faction led by P J Joseph merged with KC-M. There will be no impact on UDF if certain individuals leave KC-M," he told reporters here.
The first round of seat sharing talks with IUML was over and talks with KC-M would be held on March 5, he said adding, the plan was to complete the seat sharing talks by March 7.
"We are moving ahead with the scheduled agenda. The UDF will face the coming polls unitedly," he asserted.
KC-M leader and party Rajya Sabha member Joy Abraham said the rebel leaders left the party following dispute over seat allocation and "nothing political".
He alleged that it was a strategy scripted by LDF and the group had already held talks with Left leaders.
Meanwhile, veteran CPI-M leader V S Achuthanandan said without examining and studying, it would be difficult to include the new faction in the LDF.
Trouble was brewing for some time in the KC-M with the group led by Francis George not happy over "some issues" related to seat allocations for the coming polls.
KC, which has a stronghold in the Central Travancore districts of the state, had undergone several splits since its formation.
At present, besides KC-M, there is Kerala Congress (J), of late T M Jaob, Kerala Congress (B), led R Balakrishna Pillai.
Then there is a faction of Kerala Congress led by former government Chief Whip P C George and, former MP P C Thomas, a Kerala Congress (Secular) by former speaker T S John.
(REOPENS MDS 4)
Later, P J Joseph disapproved of the Francis George-led
leaders' decision to quit the KC(M).
"Not agreeing with their decision (to quit the party). They should have been with the party which is part of the UDF. The UDF government did a lot of good things for the people," he said.
He dismissed the their allegations that Jose K Mani held secret alliance talks with BJP President Amit Shah in New Delhi earlier this month.
"I don't think so," Joseph said reacting to the allegations levelled against Jose K Mani by Francis George faction.
Talking to reporters in Kochi, Francis George alleged the KC(M) under Mani's leadership drifted away from its aims and values.
"The Kerala Congress party's declared moto is to protect the interests of the minorities. We can't agree with the move (by Mani and his son) to establish a link--secretly and publicly-- with a party like BJP which stands against the interest of the minorities," George said.
When asked about the voice of disagreement raised by P J Joseph, Francis George said, "He is our leader. He should come forward and continue to lead us".
He said they have a three-decade-long relations with veteran leader and he would not be able to continue in the Mani-led Kerala Congress (M) for long.
Hitting out at Francis George-led faction, Kerala Congress (M) said, "nothing is going to happen to the party as long as Joseph and Mani stand together".
