THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran has confirmed that the LDF had offered chief ministership to Kerala Congress chief K. M. Mani during the UDF regime. Mr Sudhakaran’s statement was the first official confirmation of the reports that had been doing the rounds for the last two years about the secret pact between the LDF and Mani. CPM leaders including the then CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had all along been terming the “pact” as a mere media creation. Coming as it does close on the heels of the Kerala Congress candidate becoming Kottayam district panchyat president with the backing of the CPM, Sudhakaran’s statement hints at the growing ties between the two parties at the local level.
However, in a statement, SMr udhakaran clarified that while speaking at the inauguration of the Kallar bridge in Idukki, he had not stated that the LDF had decided or promised to make Mani the chief minister. “This is a concocted story by a section of the media. I had only referred to my speech in the Assembly during which I pointed out that had Mani tread the right political path he would have achieved greater positions in politics today. But in my Idukki speech there was no mention of the LDF promising or assuring Mani the post of chief minister,” he said in a statement.
Reacting to Mr Sudhakaran’s statement, KPCC president M. M. Hassan said what was hearsay till today had been confirmed by the minister. “So far it was only rumour. But now it has been confirmed,” he said. P. C. George, MLA, said Sudhakaran had revealed the truth. The proposal could not materialise because of the opposition from the Kerala Congress leader’s son and wife, said.
