Kottayam: Factional feud in Kerala Congress (M) intensified on Thursday after senior leaders engaged in a war of words over a purported letter sent to the Election Commission claiming that working chairman P J Joseph has been elected the party chief. Amid escalating tension, the Congress held conciliatory talks with both factions to avoid a split in the party over leadership crisis.

Opposition leader and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala is in touch with the leaders of both factions. The Congress leadership also held talks with PJ Joseph, in a bid to end the leadership crisis and avoid a split in the party.

The Kottayam District Congress Committee also urged the United Democratic Front (UDF) to step in to resolve the dispute in its ally KC(M).

Meanwhile, PJ Joseph made it clear that a state committee would not be convened immediately to pick the party chairman.

The crisis intensified after Joseph said that such a letter was not sent to the Election Commission. “But it is not known if a letter on interim chairman was sent. If so, that’s only part of the usual procedure,” Joseph said during a meet in Thodupuzha.

Hitting back, Jose K Mani, son of former Kerala Congress (M) supremo KM Mani whose death led to the leadership crisis, said in Pala that certain people with vested interests were trying to destroy the party.

The Youth Front (M) and Kerala Students Congress (M) held a demonstration against Mons Joseph, MLA, of the Joseph faction at Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam. They burnt Mons' effigy and placed a garland of shoes on his photo. They have also decided to boycott Mons.

Roshy Augustine, MLA, has also come out against PJ Joseph. Roshy said that he had a clear understanding of the party's constitution.

“Confusion was created after reports claimed that a letter was sent to the Election Commission saying that the party chairman was elected. The court had barred from declaring the party chairman and other members during the KM Mani remembrance meet in Thiruvananthapuram. The case in this regard would be considered again on August 3. However, it is not known if the court ruling has any bearing on calling the state committee meet," Roshy said at Kattapana in Idukki.