Thiruvananthapuram: The UDF is in no mood to play ball with the Kerala Congress (M) by conceding its demand for two Lok Sabha seats during the bilateral seat talks to be held in Kochi on Tuesday. If Kerala Congress working chairman P. J. Joseph sticks to his demand, the Mani faction would like to drop him like a hot potato. The Congress will give only the Kottayam seat to the KC(M) leaving the party to resolve its internal issues.
The KC (M) is on the verge of an explosion over Mr Joseph’s demand, said sources. Mr Jose K. Mani’s camp had been trying to field one of his loyalists, Stephen George or Prince Lukose, party general secretaries, from Kottayam, giving sleepless nights to Mr Joseph, who felt humiliated. He wanted to quit state politics and contest from the Kottayam LS seat.
“There were attempts by Jose K. Mani and his wife Nisha Jose to appease their loyalists. Crucial party decisions are being taken by the duo sidelining senior leaders like P. J. Joseph, Thomas Chazhikkadan and Joseph M. Puthussery,” said a KC (M) leader.
Mr K.M. Mani, who is admitted to a private hospital in Kochi, will attend the bilateral talks. But the Congress leadership will not intervene in the KC(M) dispute, said sources.
“Joseph has been indulging in pressure tactics prior to the bilateral talks. The KPCC cannot give an extra seat to the KC (M) as the Muslim League too will demand more seats,” said a senior Congress MLA.
