THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Tuesday said that his party was not averse to having issue-based cooperation with the Kerala Congress (M) which has quit the UDF. However, he made it clear that expansion of the LDF was not on the agenda at the moment. “There are many issues on which mutual cooperation can happen like centre –state relations, farm crisis, particularly issues of rubber farmers, and secularism. Mani’s party can join the all-India general strike on September 2,” he said and added that the Kerala Congress (M) decision to come out of the decayed UDF was a welcome development in the state’s politics.
Mr Kodiyeri said the CPM had cooperated with Mr Mani on similar issues even on earlier occasions. As finance minister, he had even taken part in the conference held in connection with the party plenum in Palakkad. He said the CPM would take all measures to ensure that the BJP-RSS does not exploit the situation arising out of Mr Mani’s exit from the UDF. Mr Mani has himself clarified that his party would have equidistant policy towards the LDF, UDF and the BJP.
“We are not desperate to induct Mani into the LDF. His support is not needed for our government to survive. We have a comfortable majority. But on common issues there can always be cooperation with them,” he added. When asked whether it was proper to have an alliance with a person against whom the LDF had launched sustained agitation in the bar bribe case and also secured a big mandate on the issue, Mr Kodiyeri said: “the case will take its own course. We don’t have anything to do with that process.”
The JD(U) and the RSP were welcome to return to the LDF. “As of now they are with the UDF. Let them first come out of the UDF,” he said and added that the expansion of the LDF will depend on the political situation emerging later. Meanwhile, the CPI has opposed any move to induct Mr Mani into the LDF.
