The United Democratic Front (UDF) is facing a crisis, which is augmented by the Kerala Congress (M)'s apprehension of losing seats in the coming Assembly elections, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said.
Addressing mediapersons at Adimaly, where the Idukki leg of the Left Democratic Front's Vikasana Munnetta Jatha, which he is leading, started on Monday, he said that in the delimitation of Assembly constituencies, Central and South Kerala lost seven seats, while the number of seats in north Kerala increased. This, he said, would indirectly help the Muslim League and the KC (M) was worried about losing the second place in the UDF coalition to the League. This was the reason for the violence in Thodupuzha on Saturday and the comments made by the KC (M) leaders affirmed this.
KC(M) leader K.M. Mani stayed away from the public reception given to R. Balakrishna Pillai, leader of another party in the coalition, and this raised doubts on the stand of that party.
On the case related to P.J. Joseph, Mr Balakrishnan said that the State government had nothing to do with it as it was booked in Tamil Nadu and the trial was held there.
