Chandy bows to Mani’swish, eases George out

Face-off in KC(M): George says he continues to be UDF MLA and did not have any plans to quit as a legislator.

P.C. George addressing mediapersons after his meeting with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. Photo: S. Mahinsha

After protracted rounds of discussion, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy finally took the call on Tuesday to remove Kerala Congress (M) [KC(M)] vice chairman P.C. George as Government Chief Whip, acceding to the coalition principle of giving precedence to the KC(M)’s prerogative to recommend nominees to various key positions.

Mr. Chandy told waiting mediapersons late in the evening that his discussions could not arrive at a meeting point, but coalition courtesies dictated that it was for the party concerned to recommend its nominees to various posts. He said the United Democratic Front (UDF), in due regard to this, accepted KC(M) leader K.M. Mani’s letter seeking Mr. George’s removal as the Government Chief Whip and his withdrawal as KC(M) representative in the UDF.

However, Mr. George refused to resign and dared the UDF to remove him from the post. Directing his ire at Mr. Mani, Mr. George said he continued to be a UDF MLA and did not have any plans to quit as a legislator.

Mr. Chandy held discussions with Mr. George late in the evening. Industries Minister and Indian Union Muslim League leader P.K. Kunhalikutty and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala joined the discussion. This was followed by separate talks between the three leaders. Interestingly, Mr. Mani did not participate in the any form of discussions, maintaining that his party’s decision was non-negotiable and that Mr. George had to go as the Government Chief Whip. He was clear that his party, as a coalition partner, had the prerogative to recommend its nominees to various positions that were allotted to the respective constituents.

Putting the entire issue in its perspective, Mr. Kunhalikutty said that removing Mr. George was the only option since it was a matter that concerned coalition norms. Mr. George did not hide his ire and vowed to take on Mr. Mani more severely. He said he would address a public meeting in the State capital to explain his stand.

Jose hits out

In the meantime, Jose K. Mani, Mr. Mani’s son, came out sharply against Mr. George, terming him “a turncoat, a betrayer who had ditched his party and the coalition to which he belonged. This is for the first time that the younger Mani was opening up in media interviews, indicating that he and his father were prepared to take the fight into Mr. George’s camp. He said Mr. George was free to leave the party and that he was unfazed by the latter’s threats of exposures.