Kannur: Intervening in the dispute between the warring factions of the Kerala Congress (M), the opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that he would hold talks with Jose K Mani on Monday to find a way out of the situation. According to Chennithala, the UDF is keen to bring about a settlement between the Jose K Mani and P J Joseph groups.
Earlier, Jose K Mani had said in Kottayam that he was willing to arrive at a consensus if the UDF invited him for talks. Meanwhile, P J Joseph said that he wanted Jose K Mani to change his stand and come back to the party. Chennithala launched his mediation efforts after these developments.
In a related move, the Kerala Women’s Congress came out in support of P J Joseph. At its state leadership meet held at Thodupuzha, the organization said that the actions of Jose K Mani were regrettable.
UDF remains hopeful
The biggest challenge faced by the UDF is the upcoming Assembly bypoll for the Pala seat. Chennithala hopes to settle the disputes between the Kerala Congress factions before the election. A few days ago, Kerala Congress (M) working chairman P J Joseph had made it clear that the party would support the UDF’s nominee for Pala and that the Jose K Mani faction could not use the party symbol.
Even though Kerala Congress (M) has practically split, the UDF feels that a consensus is still possible. In case the moves in this regard fail, both factions would remain in the front, believe the UDF leaders. No Kerala Congress faction has so far launched any move to consider themselves as a separate party. They are, in fact, going ahead with mediatory efforts.
When the Assembly is in session the disputes in the Kerala Congress would have an impact on the party. The Speaker as well as the Election Commission may be involved in the matter as the official faction has to be identified and even the law regarding disqualification of MLAs could be invoked.
However, the UDF leadership feels that the entire controversy is avoidable. The UDF does not favour any particular Kerala Congress faction and has asked both to settle the issue amicably. UDF leaders had discussed the issue with Oommen Chandy, Ramesh Chennithala, Mullappally Ramachandran and P K Kunhalikutty. They had asked the Jose K Mani faction to avoid a split when it had organized its state committee meeting.
At the same time, both the Kerala Congress factions are continuing to stick to their stand. “We believe that the party leaders would not split a party that was joined by K M Mani in his absence. Mediation efforts are still on,” Chennithala told Manorama recently.
Public spat continues
Meanwhile, both the factions are continuing with their public spat. While, P J Joseph remarked in Pathanamthitta that the party chairman's post is not hereditary in nature, Jose K Mani on Sunday said that K M Mani saved P J Joseph political career from ventilator several times. Jose K Mani also added that Joseph is reacting in such weird manner as he is losing support in the party.
The worst situation
P J Joseph, who was earlier part of the LDF, is unlikely to return to that front. Jose K Mani also maintains good relations with the UDF. Moreover, he became a Rajya Sabha member after some developments that created a major controversy in the Congress.
In a situation where each Kerala Congress faction demands that the other group should not be made part of the UDF, the Congress will be in a dilemma. Retaining the Pala seat held by K M Mani is a prestige issue for the party as well as the UDF. The Kerala Congress factions will be asked to call a ceasefire considering this situation.
On the other hand, the CPM believes that one faction would separate itself from the UDF. The troubles in Kerala Congress would continue even if both factions remain part of the UDF, feels the CPM. Some time ago, the CPM was willing to accommodate K M Mani in the LDF ignoring the objections raised by its coalition partner CPI. However, Mani returned to the UDF. Recalling these events, the CPM may not launch any effort to intervene in the ongoing Kerala Congress crisis.
