THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Congress splinter groups are going to live up to its legacy of splitting again and add to the pre-Assembly poll blues. Nearly after a month since K Francis George led a few leaders from the Kerala Congress(M) and founded the Kerala Congress(Democratic) to lean Left and P C George landing in hot waters, the Kerala Congress(Skariah Thomas faction) in the LDF has lost its working chairman V Surendran Pillai on Saturday. On the other hand, Johny Nellore, chairman of the KC(Jacob), and who is cut up with the Congress leadership for denying the Angamaly seat to him, is raring to bid adieu to the UDF.
Surendran Pillai in Nemom?
Surendran Pillai has announced his decision to leave the KC(Skariah Thomas faction) and work together with secular and democratic forces.
“I’ll contest as the UDF candidate from Nemom segment,” he announced. Pillai will join the JD(U) to facilitate the political migration.
He was enraged after the LDF dumped him while rejecting his claim for the T’Puram Central Assembly seat and allotting it to the KC(Democratic) nominee. He also claimed that four general secretaries and six district secretaries of the party have quit along with him.
“A meeting of the supporters will be held on April 5 and 6. The number of seats to be contested will be decided at the meet,” he said.
However, JD(U) has taken exception to Pillai’s unilateral announcement of his candidature. “He has been asked to join JD(U) first. No commitment on outright allotment of Nemom seat has been made,” a senior functionary of JD(U) told ‘Express.‘
Johnny Nellore May Quit UDF
Dejected ‘over the deceit and treachery of the Congress’ by taking over the Angamaly seat, KC(Jacob) chairman Johnny Nellore blew hot on Saturday, with an announcement that he would contest the current polls from either Angamaly, Muvattupuzha or Kothamangalam on his own. “I would accept support extended from any corner. I don’t have any stigma towards the Left,” he added.
Johnny had declared the other day that he would not join the Left but hinted on Saturday that he is keeping his options open. As such, Johnny could remain as a loner, at the risk of even attracting an expulsion from the party, if he is found over-stretching from now on.
KC(J) may get Tharoor Seat
Meanwhile, the Congress leadership had dropped hints to KC(Jacob) that the Tharoor (SC) seat contested by the party in the last polls, may be allotted this time also as a second seat. The KC(J) had tried to get either Peermade or Punalur, in addition to Piravom, after Angamaly slipped out of its kitty.
JD(S) to Get
Ambalappuzha
Oommen Chandy and AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik on Saturday acceded to the request of JD(U) to not re-open the Ambalappuzha seat offered to it earlier. JD(U) nominee for Ambalappuzha will be Sheikh P Harris, party state general secretary.
Johnny said he would contest the polls from Angamaly, Muvattupuzha or Kothamangalam. He had earlier said that he would not join the Left but hinted on Saturday that he is keeping his options open