KOTTAYAM: Ending the 22-month-long uncertainty, KC(M) and K M Mani have finally shored up into a safe haven. For KC(M), it is a triumphant return to the UDF fold, at least for the time being, as the party appears to be stronger than when they walked out of UDF camp on August 7, 2016.
Moreover, party vice-chairman Jose K Mani ensured his presence in Parliament for the next six years, when he was elected as the UDF candidate for Rajya Sabha. But it is certain that KC(M) could not have made any claim on the Rajya Sabha seat, if they would not have quit the UDF.
At the same time, the return, creating ripples in the Congress party, indicates an arduous journey ahead for KC(M) in the UDF as there is no respite for the growing resentments in the Congress camp, especially in central Travancore. Youth Congress workers staged protests march across the district in protest against awarding the only Rajya Sabha seat to KC(M). Whereas, a majority of Congress leaders in Kottayam are also dissatisfied.
Jose K Mani won the Kottayam Lok Sabha seat with a record majority of 1.2 lakh votes in 2014, nearly double the majority Ramesh Chennithala secured in 1996. However, the relation between the KC(M) and the Congress got strained post election.“Jose was not an accessible leader for Congress workers ever since he was elected to Lok Sabha for the second time and our cadres were aggrieved over his response towards them,” said a local leader.
The strained ties between the parties was reflected in the seat-sharing talks during the local body polls in 2015 and the ensuing results. There were also differences of opinion between them in sharing power in many panchayats.It is in such a situation that KC(M) quit the UDF and wrested power from Congress in the Kottayam district panchayat, which amplified the rivalry.However, no efforts were taken so far to address this issue.
This is why senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that all issues should be addressed while bringing back KC(M) to the UDF fold and awarding them an RS seat.“Jose K Mani is aware that he cannot win Kottayam seat if he contests as a UDF candidate. Of the seven Assembly constituencies in Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency, KC(M) has a majority only in Kaduthuruthi. Congress is in power in a majority of the grama panchayats even in Pala. When we consider the total wards in local bodies across Kottayam constituency, Congress has a clear majority over the KC(M) and Congress workers’ sentiments will definitely reflect in the Parliament election as well,” said a Congress leader.
At the same time, KC(M) turned down the allegation stating that Jose K Mani had wrested the Kottayam seat from the LDF in 2009 and doubled the majority in 2014.“We have no doubt on winning the constituency. Moreover, KC(M) candidate will contest in Kottayam in the upcoming election and we will definitely retain the seat,” said KC(M) leaders.
‘i Shouldered responsibility at a peculiar situation’
Kottayam: KC(M) vice-chairman Jose K Mani said he decided to take the responsibility of representing the UDF in the Rajya Sabha considering the peculiar political situation prevailing in the state. At the same time, he said A KC(M) candidate would contest from Kottayam as a UDF candidate in the 2019 general election. In a press release, Jose said being a responsible politician, he was bound to accept and implement any decision being taken by his party leadership.
“The KC(M) leadership unanimously decided to field me as the Rajya Sabha candidate. I have made sincere efforts for the development of Kottayam when the people sent me twice to the Lok Sabha. I will continue to be with the people in resolving all their issues. At the same time, all the development initiated for the comprehensive development of Kottayam will be completed in a time-bound manner,” he said.