Taking the crisis in the United Democratic Front (UDF) to a new low, the Kerala Congress (M) has sought the ouster of fellow partner Kerala Congress (B) from the front following the revelations made by KC(B) chairman R. Balakrishna Pillai in a telephonic talk that was leaked on Monday.
In a statement here on Monday evening, KC(M) general secretary Joseph M. Puthussery alleged that by admitting his role in the telephonic talk, Mr. Pillai was in reality admitting his role in the conspiracy behind the corruption charges, which the KC(M) had hinted at earlier.
He alleged that the tape of the telephonic conversation was nothing but a product of a conspiracy entered into between Mr. Pillai and the bar owner Biju Ramesh.
Since Mr. Pillai had all along been acting as a rebel within the UDF, raising allegations against many coalition partners, he had no right to continue in the UDF, he said and asked the UDF leadership to oust Mr. Pillai.
Mani responds
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons who met him at Pravithanam, near Pala, K.M. Mani chose to downplay the developments saying that everyone knew the relationship between him and Mr. Pillai.
“I am lucky Mr. Pillai confined himself to this much. God bless him,” Mr. Mani said and added that the answer to Mr. Pillai had already been given by Mr.Chandy.
P.C. George, Government Chief Whip, whose telephonic conversations with Mr. Ramesh were among the leaked materials on Monday, meanwhile, said he had not contacted Mr. Ramesh. It was Mr. Ramesh who had contacted him. He, however, did not deny the content of the conversation claiming that as the vice chairman of the party it was his responsibility to protect Mr. Mani.
In a related development, KC(M) workers took out a rally protesting against the KC(B).
