Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Monday asked the Kerala Congress(M) leadership to publish the so-called report it had in its possession regarding his alleged role in a conspiracy against its leader K.M. Mani.
“Let people make their judgement on whether I am the villain or the hero. It is not correct to create a smokescreen,” he said in reply to questions at a press conference convened to spell out the UDF’s stand after the KC(M) quit the UDF.
After the initial emotional responses, the UDF leadership has now clamped a ban on party men and workers from making any hurtful moves against Mr. Mani.
He said the KC(M) was entitled to its right to decide its course of action. He did not consider the party’s departure as a set back. Several parties had joined the UDF when he was the KPCC president and some rearrangements had to be made in the coalition. The UDF would become stronger in the coming days, he said.
When asked whether continuing political ties at the local level was a moral issue, Mr. Chennithala said the KC(M) must have taken such a decision because there was a difference between not being in power at the State-level and wielding power in local bodies.
He was not privy to any information about the moves of Mr. Mani to quit the UDF a couple of years ago, though there was considerable speculation about it in public domain. When asked whether the UDF would leave the door open for a possible rapprochement, Mr. Chennithala asserted that there was no change in the Congress and UDF’s stance that all issues could be resolved through dialogues. Now that Mr. Mani had taken a decision, the UDF would discuss this issue at a meeting on Wednesday, he said.
