Thiruvananthapuram: The JDU headed by M.P. Veerandra Kumar has finally decided to ditch the UDF and join the LDF. The decision taken at the state executive meet held at Mannam Memorial National Club here on Thursday was approved by all the 14 district presidents, though a section of leaders was unhappy about it.
CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan welcomed the move while KPCC president M.M. Hassan refused to react saying the UDF was unaware of it.
The JDU will take a final decision at its state council meeting on Friday. Mr Varughese George, national general secretary, said the decision to join the LDF was unanimous.
But a section of senior leaders like Varughese George, former MLA K. P. Mohanan and Kozhikode district president Manayath Chandran were opposed to Mr Veeran’s move, though they finally went along with him. However, Mr John John, state secretary walked out from the executive meeting in protest.
Mr Veerendra Kumar had resigned as Rajya Sabha MP on December 20 saying that the Kerala unit would not support the national party’s decision to join hands with the BJP.
Party leader M. V. Shreyams Kumar met Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and apprised him of the decision. UDF convener P. P. Thankachan hit out at the JDU saying it showed the leaders’ greed for power.
CPM welcomes old ally back to left fold
CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Thursday welcomed the JDU) decision to quit UDF. Reacting to the decision, CPM state secretary said that it was a heartening and welcome development. “After the JDU left the LDF we had asked them to reconsider their decision,” he said.
While resigning from Rajya Sabha, Mr Veerendrakumar had pointed out that he could no longer represent Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) which is now an ally of BJP.
While he has not given hints of any assurance form LDF, sources close to him suggest that the issue of returning to Rajya Sabha as Left nominee in the seat left vacant following his resignation is not ruled out completely.
