The much-awaited two-day conclave of the Kerala Congress (M) at Charakunnu in Pathanamthitta district will begin on Saturday.
That the leadership itself has contributed to the build-up over the outcome of the deliberations at the meeting may point to the possibility of the party taking a final position on its relationship with the UDF, more importantly, with the Congress. Now all eyes are on party chairman K.M. Mani as to whether he will make any major declarations at the conclusion of the conclave on Sunday afternoon or postpone it further.
According to insiders, though the agenda of the camp is yet to be published, the venue will in all possibility be used for Congress bashing. Many believe that the assault could be selective in nature. May be for the first time, the party can come out with the names of the Congress leaders responsible for the alleged conspiracy against Mr. Mani.
The discussions could point to the ‘sins’ of the Congress party, namely, the failure to provide a Cabinet berth for a party representative even though it had two members, the Congress attitude towards P.C. George when he put the KC(M) in the dock, refusal to provide additional seats to the party during the last Assembly elections, and, of course, the issue of conspiracy against Mr. Mani.
The camp could also witness dissenting voices, though they are in a minority, being silenced with the large majority of party leaders from the grassroots level who have been at the receiving end of Congress manipulations during the local body and Assembly elections. In other words, the discussions are expected to provide the ambience for at least a temporary distancing of the party from the Congress.
It will also be keenly watched whether the issue of the setback received by Mr. Mani’s friends in the Congress will have any impact on the dialogues and outcome.
Mr. Mani will inaugurate the camp at 2 p.m. on Saturday. P.J. Joseph, working chairman, will preside. Deputy chairman C.F. Thomas, general secretaries Jose K. Mani, Joy Abraham, and others will lead the discussions.
