: The ongoing row between Kerala Congress (M) leaders K.M. Mani and P.C. George over the latter’s continuation as Government chief whip has virtually complicated matters for the United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership in the coming Rajya Sabha election, which is based on first preferential votes.
Given the current strength in the Assembly, the UDF can win two of the three Rajya Sabha seats to which elections are being held on April 16. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) will feel the immediate heat of the ongoing political row between Mr. George and Mr. Mani.
With 73 on its side, the ruling coalition will have to cut it thin when it comes to the numbers game. Mr. George appears to have made the UDF leadership’s vulnerability his bargaining point to ensure his political relevance. If Mr. George were to take the extreme step, the UDF will be in a high risk zone with just 72 votes in its kitty to get its nominees elected, given the fact that the value of each vote is 35.75.
At the other end of the spectrum, Mr. Mani has eight legislators with him. If he were to take an extreme stand, then it would open up enormous possibilities. But the Kerala Congress (M) would rather use its numbers to consolidate its position in the UDF rather than upsetting it. He has subtly used the Rajya Sabha backdrop to bridle Mr. George and force the UDF to toe his line. Besides withdrawing Mr. George’s nomination as Government Chief Whip, Mr. Mani has also shot down a proposal to accommodate Mr. George as a separate entity within the UDF.
The IUML leadership is quite concerned because it would be at the receiving end in the event of a twist in the course of political developments. Its candidate can win only as the second candidate behind the Congress, since the latter has larger number in the Assembly. Sensing the risk involved, the IUML leaders did not lose time to assume the role of formula makers giving up their ostrich-like attitude they had adopted in the last four years when Mr. George set off one controversy after another.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s main task is to work out a formula before the last date for nomination on April 6. Responding to media questions on Sunday, Mr. Chandy said in Kottayam that a final decision would be taken by Thursday.
