KOTTAYAM: Giving a new dimension to the allegations that the Kerala Congress (M) and the LDF had reached a clandestine understanding for power sharing, party mouthpiece ‘Prathichchaya,’ in its latest issue, has confirmed reports that the LDF had offered the Chief Minister post to KC(M) chairman K M Mani during the last UDF government tenure. In the editorial, the magazine says “the bar bribery controversy was a ‘reward’ to Mani to reject the Chief Minister’s post.”
The article is a direct reply to the comments by Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran recently the LDF had plans to offer a ‘high post to Mani.’
The article, while hailing Sudhakaran’s ‘honest’ comment as a certification for political probity of Mani, accuses the UDF of trapping Mani into the controversy even after he had taken a stern stand to keep the Front intact.
“Withstanding the strong enticements to leave the UDF accepting the Chief Minister’s post, Mani stood with the front. Was it his wrongdoing? Had he accepted the offer, the Kerala political history would have been different, right? Is there any other leader, who had taken such an extreme political sacrifice in the history?” the article asks.
The article, which launches a blistering attack on Ramesh Chennithala and hotelier Biju Ramesh for targeting Mani, praises former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for extending support during the crisis.
I never wished for CM post: Mani
At the same time, KC(M) chairman K M Mani said he never wished the post of Chief Minister and didn’t made any attempt to sabotage the UDF government. He was speaking to mediapersons on Wednesday.
Without denouncing the content of the editorial, Mani said he was not informed or contacted before publishing articles in the party mouthpiece. “The magazine had made its own investigations and observations on the matter. I had faced several enticements, but didn’t yield to any of them. I always took steps to strengthen and protect the UDF,” he said.