KOCHI: The simmering discontent over sharing of seats in the ensuing Assembly elections has brought the Kerala Congress (Jacob) faction into a virtual split with the party Chairman Johnny Nellore openly expressing dissatisfaction over the talks with Congress while parliamentary party leader of the faction and minister Anoop Jacob expressing satisfaction over the talks.
In a clear sign of revolt against the UDF Mr. Nellore told reporters that he has resigned as chairman of Oushadhi in protest against the failure of the Congress to respond to the party’s demand for four seats in the assembly elections.
Mr. Nellore also said that he will not attend the bilateral talks with congress scheduled for the day. Mr. Nellore insisted that there will not be any compromise on the issue of demand for Piravom and Angamaly assembly seats.
Mr. Jacob meanwhile told reporters that he came to know about the resignation of Mr. Nellore from media reports. Expressing satisfaction over the talks held with congress Mr. Jacob said that the party will demand for four assembly seats. Mr. Jacob also said that the party will not do any action that would weaken the UDF.
Mr. Nellore, aspirant for the Angamaly seat however launched a scathing attack on the congress leadership and said that the congress had insulted him and the party by referring to his defeat in Angamaly in the 2011 elections.
“The Congress should also feel that the UDF needed to come back to power”, he said when asked about the need for maintaining unity in the UDF. Mr. Nellore said that he has been preparing to contest from Angamaly and did the groundwork in the past few months.
Francis George, chairman of the newly formed Democratic Kerala Congress, meanwhile has said that the treatment meted out to Mr. Nellore cannot be justified.
