The United Democratic Front (UDF) on Friday found itself in the midst of a new crisis triggered off by Kerala Congress (M) leader and Finance Minister K.M. Mani’s stubborn stand on the removal of his acerbic party colleague P.C. George as Government chief whip.
Sensing the adverse impact of Mr. Mani’s moves, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy made it clear that he would hold discussions with coalition partners about the Kerala Congress (M)’s demand to remove Mr. George from his post. He tagged along Industry Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala in his attempt to prevent the issue from going out of hand. Mr. Mani, who has given in writing his party’s decision to withdraw Mr. George’s nomination as Government chief whip, refused to budge an inch as a result of which conciliation efforts reached no where.
Mr. George maintained that he would continue to be part of the UDF and the coalition leadership would decide the question of his continuance in the post. He challenged the validity of Thursday’s legislature party meeting which was convened without inviting him and was not backed by a majority decision.
“Don’t try to frighten me by dangling the provisions of the anti-defection laws,” he said challenging Mr. Mani to convene party committees to test his popularity.
Mr. Mani, in his reaction, said the decision to divest Mr. George of all his official positions was taken unanimously with all the eight legislators of the party participating. He said that Mr. George’s statements and functioning during the last four years were directed at destabilising the ruling coalition.
“My party is firm that such a situation cannot continue. UDF leaders had on previous occasions demanded action against Mr. George. On the basis of this, I had asked Mr. George several times straight on his face to desist from making adverse remarks,” he said. The Government chief whip’s position was allotted to the Kerala Congress (M) and the party had every right to decide its nominee, Mr. Mani said.
According to UDF sources, Mr. George is angling for a slot in the UDF as a coalition partner by reviving his defunct Kerala Congress (Secular).
He is understood to have conveyed his plans to the UDF leaders who held talks with him on Friday. However, this proposal is likely to run aground because Mr. Mani had already registered his Opposition.
The KC(M) leader was removed as chief whip on Thursday
