THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The time is ripe for another split in the Kerala Congress (M) with Mr Jose K. Mani ruffling the feathers of senior party leaders, including Mr P. J. Joseph, who has felt sidelined.
Mr Jose K. Mani, Rajya Sabha MP, has been increasingly getting assertive inviting the charge of intolerance at the top.
Ever since the KC (M) returned to the UDF in 2018 during the Chengannur by-election, things had soured between the two factions. While Mr Mani and his loyalists have reiterated that the merger did not bring them any advantage, Mr Joseph remained sullen.
Party leaders feel that the junior Mani was emerging as the undisputed leader at the expense Mr Joseph.
"Jose K. Mani was allegedly not taking the rank and file and even senior leaders like Joy Abraham into confidence. There are scores of partymen who had toiled for the KC (M) who are being sidelined. Instead Jose and his cronies are being brought in," said a senior Mani loyalist.
Many also feel that Mr Francis K. George's rebellion was a rude jolt to the party. If George, son of Kerala Congress founder K. M. George, had remained with the KC (M), Jose K. Mani would not have flexed his muscles.
Another KC (M) leader said the party would witness another split due to the "intolerance" of the leadership. But Jose, who is busy with his Kerala Yatra, said in Malappuram that the party will stay united.
AICC general secretary Oommen Chandy had planned to give the Idukki Lok Sabha seat to the Joseph faction so that the Congress could take back Kottayam.
Mr Jose K. Mani was sent to Rajya Sabha after he vacated his Lok Sabha seat fearing retaliation from the Congress leaders in the 2019 general elections.
