Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Congress (M) has managed to contain the simmering trouble in the party with the legislature party skirting the contentious issues at its meeting here on Monday.
Party chairman K.M. Mani said that there were no major problems over the election of the Kottayam district panchayat president with CPM support. Only preliminary discussions took place at the meeting held at Mr Mani’s room in the MLA quarters. Deputy chairman C. F. Thomas did not attend it as he was stated to be unwell.
“As Mr. Thomas was not well, we will hold the meeting later. If there was any difference of opinion, do you think Joseph and his faction would have attended the meeting now,” said Mr Mani.
Earlier, there were reports that Mr. Thomas will stay away from the meeting. Mr Mani sent his son and Lok Sabha MP, Jose K. Mani, to talk to him and he said Mr Thomas was unwell.
However, trouble is still brewing within the party. The Joseph faction is unhappy with Mr Mani for his decision on the panchayat election. Party sources told DC that the Joseph faction had asked Mr Mani to oust Mr Zacharias Kuthiraveli from the district panchayat president post. Even the MLAs close to Mr Mani have resented his decision to join hands with the CPM.
