Thiruvananthapuram: UDF leadership is expected to urge Kerala Congress (Mani) working chairman P. J. Joseph to calm down on party chairman K. M. Mani choosing Thomas Chazhikadan disregarding his claim to Kottayam seat.
Congress and other allies want to prevent Mr Joseph splitting the party as elections are just 41 days away.
With Mr Joseph not hiding his displeasure against Mr Mani and his son Jose K. Mani, there was no other way before the UDF but to intervene.
A KC (M) leader told this newspaper that the father-son duo does not wish to tamper prospects of the son becoming a Union minister if Congress comes to power. If he romps home, the senior leader will have it.
“Congress and other allies favoured Mr Joseph. But senior and junior Mani thwarted that plan and proposed Mr Chazhikadan, who got the biggest shock. Three names considered in Kottayam were Jose K. Mani’s wife Nisha Jose and general secretaries Stephen George and Prince Lukose,” said a KC (M) leader.
Meanwhile, KC (M) Kannur district secretary Rojes Sebastian and his wife Beena Rojes, Ayyankunnu panchayat member, have stepped down in protest and alleged that the move was to ensure CPM candidate V. N. Vasavan’s victory.
Several party insiders argued that there's an unholy nexus between them.
Kozhikode district general secretary P. M. George had also resigned. On Wednesday, Mr Joseph will hold talks with KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and CWC member Oommen Chandy here.
