Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy appears to have succeeded in getting Janata Dal (U) to scale down its criticism of the United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership, at least for the time being, by holding an ice-breaking session with JD(U) State president M.P. Veerendrakumar here on Sunday.
Mr. Chandy called on Mr. Veerendrakumar in the afternoon. Emerging from the meeting, he told reporters that all the issues raised by the JD(U) would be taken up seriously and UDF leaders, including Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president V.M. Sudheeran and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, would hold discussions with Mr. Veerendrakumar on May 5.
The Chief Minister is understood to have assured the JD(U) leader that the Congress and the UDF would take stern action against persons who had worked against Mr. Veerendrakumar in Palakkad in the last Lok Sabha elections. The report of the UDF subcommittee that had gone into the election defeat was awaited. The inquiry panel, which held a meeting here last week, had named four district-level Congress leaders of having played a part in Mr. Veerendrakumar’s defeat.
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Following Mr. Chandy’s conciliation effort, the JD(U) leader agreed to participate actively in the northern regional rally of the UDF from May 19 to project the achievements of the UDF government among the people. Earlier, the party had decided to quit the UDF campaigns.
Veerendrakumar to take part in UDF campaigns
Chennithala, Sudheeran to hold more talks