Steering Committee gives green signal: Kerala Congress (M) to continue in LDF

KOTTAYAM: Nothing significant happened in the emergency steering committee meeting of Kerala Congress (M), which many had expected would deepen internal divisions amid the controversy over a possible change of political front. When party chairman Jose K. Mani listed the achievements of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government and the gains made by Kerala Congress (M), and asked why the party should leave the LDF, those who were waiting to raise the issue of switching alliances were left without an answer. The steering committee meeting, which lasted for about four and a half hours, thus ended on a positive note.

Jose K. Mani seated the party’s five MLAs, some of whom had expressed differing views, including suggestions to move to the UDF or to firmly stay with the LDF, on either side of him and made them clearly state that all of them support continuing with the LDF. Revising his earlier remark that “wherever we are, there is power,” Jose said, “If we are in the LDF, then governance will be with the LDF.”

Before the meeting began at the party’s state committee office in Kottayam, Minister Roshy Augustine told the media that the party would not leave the LDF. MLA Pramod Narayanan also said there was no pressure from the Christian Church to exit the LDF. Jose arrived while the five MLAs were having tea at a nearby shop, and then walked with them in a small procession to the meeting hall.

Will demand 15 seats
Although the party got 13 seats in the last Assembly election, one seat was later taken back by the CPM. The party will demand to contest the same 13 seats again and will seek two additional seats as well. The steering committee entrusted party chairman Jose K. Mani with the responsibility of holding seat-sharing talks, finalising candidates, and leading the LDF’s central zone jatha. The birth anniversary of K.M. Mani on January 30 will be observed as Karunya Day.

Some leaders raised criticism, saying that in the local body elections, the party did not get winnable seats in many districts, was asked to contest under independent symbols, and did not receive sufficient CPM votes. Leaders from northern districts were more vocal in their criticism. Of the 86 members in the steering committee, 80 attended the meeting.