KOTTAYAM: Even as the Kerala Congress(M) has been eyeing new pastures in the LDF camp as evidenced by the party’s decision to secure the CPM backing in the district panchayat after ditching the Congress, the politics in central Travancore is currently at a crossroads.
The move which led to rumblings within the KC(M),with the P J Joseph faction coming out openly against it, could have likely portends for the Congress as well.
Meanwhile, after the initial hiccup, the internal troubles in the KC(M),post-l’affaire Kottayam, appear to be tapering off following the damage control measures undertaken by KC(M)supremo K M Mani. Aided by deft political moves, Mani has succeeded in regaining the confidence of his loyalists, who had turned hostile following the unilateral decision to ditch the Congress.
Apart from ensuring the presence of the ‘old Mani group’ MLAs at the ‘unofficial’ KC(M) parliamentary party meeting held at his residence on Friday night, he succeeded in bringing back close aide E J Augusthy as the party’s district chief. Mani’s vibes with Augusthy ensured the latter withdrew his resignation which was a knee-jerk reaction to the KC(M) move to seek the CPM support.
Moreover, with two years remaining before the next major election -- the 2019 Lok Sabha polls -- comes around, Mani has ample time to set things right and prepare his camp for a ‘Left turn’. As a seasoned politician, Mani is well aware taking an adamant stance or letting the troubles to escalate at this juncture, will not be good for the party. At the same time, P J Joseph and his close aide Mons Joseph have stoutly opposed the move, sending a clear message it would lead to a split in the party. Mani’s main agenda at the KC(M) parliamentary party meeting scheduled for Monday in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday will be to pacify these two leaders.
On the other side, the ‘old Joseph group’ leaders led by Francis George, who left the UDF following major differences with K M Mani and his son Jose K Mani, have started attempts to realign with P J Joseph, in the wake of a split in the KC(M).
“We are not against the UDF. We left the UDF camp over the differences with K M Mani and his son Jose K Mani. If P J Joseph and his supporters were to breakaway from the KC(M), we are ready to join hands with them,” said Democratic Kerala Congress leader, Michael James.
At the same time, the DCC looks headed for a possible revamp of its leadership after the unexpected blow from the KC(M). “Earlier, the KC(M) was considered the Catholic representation of the UDF in Kottayam. However, with the new developments in the Kottayam district panchayat, there remains very litte chance of the KC(M)’s return to the UDF fold. Since central Travancore is a traditional Catholic Christian stronghold, the situation warrants the emergence of a Catholic to lead the party in the district,” said a Congress leader on condition of anonymity.
Also, Mani’s sudden move has left his diehard supporters in the Congress district leadership in a spot of bother.