'Discussions are relevant only when Jose K Mani leaves Left Front; CM is only person who does not know that Kerala will have a new government soon'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that discussions regarding the Kerala Congress (M)'s entry into the UDF will become relevant only if the party leaves the Left Front or expresses its interest in doing so.

"It is not right to try to bring a party into our camp while it continues to remain part of another front. If they want to leave the Left Front and join the UDF, they should say so clearly. Until such an interest is expressed, there is no relevance to any discussion,” Chennithala told reporters.

"The UDF secured huge victories in the recent panchayat elections and parliament elections. Everyone knows that we will come to power by winning more than 100 seats in the upcoming assembly elections. There is no doubt about that. The people of Kerala are thinking in favour of the UDF and want a change in government. The only person who does not seem to realise this is the Chief Minister,” he said.

Referring to a recent statement by Aisha Potty, Chennithala said her remarks were significant. “She said that today’s Communist Party is not the same party she joined years ago. That is a serious observation. Coming from someone who belongs to a Communist family, it reflects the decline the party has undergone,” he said.

Chennithala clarified that expanding the UDF’s popular base does not mean bringing some parties into the front. “Our primary aim is to secure the support of like-minded people and individuals who believe in secular and democratic values. The people have stood with us in the last Lok Sabha elections, by-elections and panchayat polls,” he said.

On the Wayanad housing issue, Chennithala said the CPM initially claimed that the Congress would not build houses for landslide victims. “Now, after we purchased land using our own funds, they say the area is elephant-prone. We have received reports confirming that the land is suitable for habitation. We will go ahead with constructing houses for the victims,” he said, urging the media not to take up what he described as the CPM’s continuous false campaigns.