Saji Manjakadambil to join NDA; forms new party, support for Thushar Vellappally

KOTTAYAM: Saji Manjakadambil, who left the Kerala Congress Joseph Group has joined the NDA. He formed a new Kerala Congress party. Saji announced that the name of the new party emerging in the Kerala politics will be Kerala Congress Democratic. He also said that his party will support NDA candidate Thushar Vellappally in the Lok Sabha elections.

Saji had informed that he had already received invitations from fronts. Saji had earlier responded that he resigned from the post of Kerala Congress district president and UDF district chairman in protest against the dictatorial tendencies of Mons Joseph MLA. Saji had then said that he was ending his public activities.

The Congress had earlier expressed its displeasure on his resignation. The Congress criticized that the Joseph Group aggravated the problem which could have been solved by talking. The Congress also assessed that Saji's resignation caused confusion among the front workers. The Congress had expressed its displeasure in this matter to P J Joseph. The Congress was of the stand that the issue could have been resolved without affecting the front's chances of success.

However, Saji Manjakadambil resigned alleging that the front and the party were ignoring him. Differences of opinion with Mons Joseph resulted in Saji's resignation. Saji was also a senior leader of the Joseph Group in Kottayam. Saji wanted to become a candidate in Kottayam and had stated it publicly.

P J Joseph later intervened and persuaded him by saying that he would be considered in the assembly elections. He then started cooperating in election activities. Saji later felt that he was being ignored and this ended in his resignation.