Even as the Vigilance inquiry into the bar bribery case approaches its last leg, the Kerala Congress (M) leadership is haunted by the big question of the party’s future course of action, in case party chairman K.M. Mani is charge-sheeted in the case. However, more important would be the question whether Mr. Mani could hold his flock together with him in his future decisions.
In a party which has not been able to resolve the factional interests amicably, many of his loyalists had always held that the case was the result of a political conspiracy hatched by a section of the Congress party.
However, with the distancing of P.C. George from the leadership, they are also accusing him and those running the Home Department responsible for the conspiracy.
They point to the continuing leakage of sensitive information regarding the investigation as a clear sign of putting pressure on the party leadership. However, those close to Mr. Mani are also of the impression that though the “conspirators” are thrashing their leader, the real target is the Chief Minister himself.
As such, the future strategy will be taken based on the larger picture that emerges after the preparation of the charge sheet, they maintain.
They are of opinion that the party as a whole should keep away from the Cabinet as they believed the case was the result of a conspiracy.
However, the real challenge that faces Mr. Mani lies in holding the faction-ridden party together with him. Earlier when he made his intend not to step down even if named in the charge sheet, it had evoked mixed reaction from the ranks, with clear factional allegiance reflecting in the reactions.
While Mr. George, then an active player in the party, made his mind open against such a move, the voices of dissent from the former P.J. Joseph loyalists was more muted as Mr. Joseph himself stood with Mr. Mani.
However, this time over, reactions could be more vociferous in case Mr. Mani is named in the charge sheet. According to one of the top Joseph loyalists, who wanted to stay anonymous, “the public knows the reality behind the case. There is no question of us supporting the continuation of Mr. Mani if he is charge-sheeted.” He also did not believe it proper for the party to recall all its representatives from the Cabinet.
The question is whether K.M. Mani could hold his flock together, if he is charge-sheeted
