THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid the ongoing verbal duel between R Balakrishna Pillai and his Minister son K B Ganesh Kumar, a crucial meet of the Kerala Congress (B) secretariat will be held here on Friday.
The meeting assumes significance as the state committee meet held in Kochi recently came down heavily on Ganesh Kumar and warned the UDF leadership from taking sides.
The secretariat meet is likely to uphold the state committee’s views and the general impression is that the party may ask the UDF to pullout its nominee from the cabinet.
Since Ganesh Kumar is the lone MLA of the party and also the numbers are very crucial for the UDF Government’s survival, it is almost certain that there will be few takers for the demands of Pillai. Already the KPCC and the UDF leadership expressed strong displeasure on the fomenting of party/father-son issues of the KC(B) in public and the pressure tactics of Pillai, when the Piravom Assembly bypoll is fast nearing.
The intervention of the NSS in the Pillai-Ganesh Kumar spat has not paid any dividends so far. When Pillai has the backing of the NSS leadership, Ganesh Kumar finds strength from the UDF constituents, who are keen to see the government in power.
Supporters of Ganesh Kumar are prompting to float an outfit on his own in case of any eventuality.
However, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the issue would be sorted out soon. “Definitely, we’ll pay attention to what Balakrishna Pillai has to say,” he said. KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala also is confident of thrashing out a truce. “We’ll talk to both of them. The issue will be settled soon,” he said.