The verbal sparring between the Kerala Congress (M) and Congress leaders continued for the second day on Thursday, with former Finance Minister K.M. Mani slightly amending his stand and stating that his party would take a principled stand on a case-to-case basis and his candidate’s election as Kottayam district panchayat president with CPI(M) support did not have much political import.
Mr. Mani, while addressing a press conference here, said his party had not applied for admission to any of the coalitions. His party was not anti-UDF or anti-Congress. It did not blindly oppose any party. He wondered whether it was a crime to associate with the Left Democratic Front.
‘Purely local’
“It is not an offence to have a purely local understanding with the LDF. There is hardly any party (in the UDF) which has not had association with the CPI(M). The IUML is the only party that has not hurt the Kerala Congress (M),” Mr. Mani said. He added that the Kerala Congress (M) was not part of any coalition. Therefore, it was free to adopt its own tactical line.
‘UDF doors shut’
However, former Kottayam DCC president and senior Congress legislator K.C. Joseph made it clear that the doors of the UDF would not open for the Kerala Congress (M) any more. Mr. Mani and his son Jose K. Mani had stabbed the Congress in the back in the district panchayat president election. The Congress would henceforth take a tough stand against the KC(M).
Credibility factor
Mr. Joseph said the incumbent panchayat president Joshi Kurian had resigned after consulting Mr. Mani, who had unambiguously stated that he would support the UDF. His last minute decision to ditch the Congress has marred his credibility, Mr. Joseph said.
Several close aides such as E.J. Augusthy, KC(M) Kottayam district president, differed with Mr. Mani, he said, welcoming the stand taking by KC(M) leaders P.J. Joseph and Mons Joseph.
