Congress wants ex-allies back minus M P Veerendra Kumar, son M V Shreyams Kumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leadership is keen on bringing all those allies which had ditched the UDF over the last few years including KC (M) and JD (U) back. But they do not want JD (U) chairman M. P. Veerendra Kumar and his son M. V. Shreyams Kumar saying they play petty politics. Already Congress MLA K. Muraleedharan has demanded this openly. The recent meetings of the UDF and liaison committee and the high power Political Affairs Committee of Congress have decided to bring back KC (M).

However, a section of Congress leaders is apprehensive of KC (M). They feel its chairman K. M. Mani will keep on dilly-dallying until the further investigation on the bar case gets over. Mr Muraleedharan said KC (M) had got high stakes in Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta and none of the DCCs there has objections to it.

“UDF has never hurt any of these allies. So it is our priority to settle pending issues and come to an amicable solution. We are hoping that a section of JD (U) leaders will return,” he told DC. But JD (U) national general secretary Varughese George said there would be no rethinking on his party’s side as it was a unanimous decision. “A conclusive decision was taken at the state council and executive committee meetings. Currently, all the 14 district committee meetings are going on where so far there has been no dissent about leaving the UDF. The next LDF meeting will be discussing the induction of the JD (U)." he told DC. KPCC leadership is also keen on roping in BDJS before next year's national elections. But BJP is still hopeful of keeping it with them.