With pressure mounting on Kerala Congress (M) [KC(M)] chairman K.M. Mani from both the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) and coalition partner Congress to resign in connection with the bar licence bribery case, the KC(M) leadership has found itself in a sticky situation.
The party has called an emergency meeting of the steering committee for Saturday to discuss the emerging situation. While all related issues would be discussed at the meeting, it is unlikely that the meeting will come out with any final word on the issue
KC(M) stance
The KC(M) had always maintained that the allegations against Mr. Mani were part of a conspiracy hatched with the connivance of a section of Congress leaders. And they had hinted that some of them were close to the Chief Minister.
However, in the latest round, the critical remarks about Mr. Mani had come from quarters which were not so close to Mr. Chandy, they pointed out
They maintained that while the allegations against Mr. Mani were first raised as a smokescreen to protect those Congress leaders involved in the bribery, the latest bout of criticism against their chairman was actually aimed at the Chief Minister who could be put into a difficult situation if Mr. Mani chose to resign.
Congress game plan
They also feel that this was part of a larger game plan by the Congress leadership in the Central Travancore area to reinforce their position by weakening the KC(M).
Meanwhile at Saturday's meeting, the real challenge before Mr. Mani will be to carry his entire party with him as it will prove whether the latest round of hostility between the two coalition partners has brought out the fissures within the party or not. Since Mr. Mani himself has opened the discussion on resignation, the question is whether that issue would come up for discussion at the meeting.
Three scenarios
If it comes up, the discussions could centre round the three possible scenarios: one, whether Mr. Mani should resign or not in case named in the charge-sheet; whether to implement the earlier plan of resignation of the entire KC(M) contingent from the Cabinet (in other words cause the fall of the Oommen Chandy government); and whether it should be confined to the resignation of Mr. Mani alone.
KC(M) has called an emergency meeting of steering committee
on Saturday
