THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KC (B) is trying for a backdoor entry into the LDF Cabinet through Kerala Congress (Scaria). Pathanapuram MLA K. B. Ganesh Kumar is keen to get a cabinet berth with the help of merging with Scaria Thomas's Kerala Congress. However, KC (B) chairman R. Balakrishna Pillai and Scaria Thomas who was defeated at Kaduthuruthy in the Assembly elections told DC that it is too early to comment on the merger.
With the entry of Ramachandran Kadanapally to the LDF cabinet, it has rekindled the hopes of father–son duo, Pillai and Ganesh Kumar. But sources told DC that a section of leaders supporting Scaria Thomas is keen for the merger. But currently it is Scaria Thomas who is representing his party at the LDF meeting at AKG Centre. If KC (B) merges with Kerala Congress (Scaria), Scaria Thomas feels that it will not go down well with the LDF’s top brass due to the tainted image of the father – son duo.
“It will be good for Pillai of a merger happening. But Scaria Thomas is worried of carrying the ‘unwanted baggage’ thereby losing his peace of mind. Moreover, Pillai is keen on becoming the chairman once the merger happens which will create only additional headache to Scaria Thomas”, said a source close to both the political parties.
Earlier there were reports that Kerala Congress (Scaria), P. C. George’s Kerala Congress Secular and Francis George’s Democratic Kerala Congress would merge but at the initial stage itself, it failed. Scaria Thomas told DC that official talks are yet to happen and it is too early to comment. However, Pillai said that talks had happened almost six months ago which are yet to take off to the next level.
