Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Congress(M) may face a succession war following the death of its chairman K.M. Mani last month. His son and Rajya Sabha MP Jose K. Mani may like to step into his shoes but a strong claimant will be its working chairman P.J. Joseph.
A by-election is also due in Pala which was represented for 54 years by K.M. Mani. Jose K. Mani’s wife Nisha is likely to be fielded there by the UDF. A meeting of the parliamentary party to be held later this month will discuss these issues.
Nisha will face opposition from the Joseph faction as they had foiled her move to contest from the Kottayam Lok Sabha seat. Nisha had also allegedly tried to project her favourites in the party, who were comparatively juniors, for the Kottayam seat. Later, Mani group leader Thomas Chazhikadan was chosen.
A senior KC (M) leader told DC that Mani group will automatically take Pala seat. “The talks on the candidate will be discussed only after the Election Commission issues the by-election notification. The Joseph faction has no right over the seat,” he said. “Jose K. Mani will succeed as party chairman though Joseph and his group may not like it,” he added.
The parliamentary party will meet after the Lok Sabha results are announced on May 23, it is learnt.
