Jose K Mani should be brought to UDF, Rahul Gandhi tells party leadership in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With only a few months left for the Assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has issued directions to the party’s state leadership, suggesting that the Kerala Congress (Mani) faction should be brought back into the UDF. The instruction was given during an election review meeting held in New Delhi. Rahul Gandhi believes that bringing Jose K Mani and his group back into the alliance would help the UDF make greater gains in central Kerala.

Although there were rumours about Jose K Mani returning to the UDF, he has publicly stated that he has decided to firmly remain with the LDF. Recently, during a Kerala Congress district steering committee meeting held in Kottayam, demands were raised to return to the UDF, along with criticism that the state leadership had missed an opportunity.

The general assessment within the UDF is that the front has been able to make significant inroads among Christian communities even without Jose K Mani. Leaders say this is evident from an analysis of the local body election results. A section of leaders has also expressed the view that it would not be a major setback even if the Jose faction does not return to the UDF.

Meanwhile, the Congress has begun moving ahead with procedures, including candidate selection. The party plans to announce candidates soon after the election dates are declared. Rahul Gandhi has also suggested that winnability alone should be the key criterion while selecting candidates this time.