THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It might be an action stemmed from a sharp sense of betrayal. Once his staunchest supporter in troubled times, Oommen Chandy is leading the move to cut Kerala Congress(M) veteran K M Mani and his son Jose K Mani to size and isolate them.
“We no longer need K M Mani and Jose K Mani. But we are keen all others in the Kerala Congress should remain with us” Chandy opened up to Express, unveiling a plan to counter the apparent moves of Mani to lean to the Left.
“It all depends on the Congress approach to win over the rank and file in a concerted manner without agitating them,” he said. Chandy cannot be blamed for not being able to reconcile with Mani’s plans as the former Chief Minister had provided unstinted support to the latter during the bar bribe case.
Despite the UDF Government facing severe flak, particularly from the LDF, then in the Opposition, from all quarters, Chandy protected Mani, the then state Finance Minister.
Mani was also under the LDF gun for the alleged ‘selling of proposals in the state budget.’ Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, never a huge fan of Mani, too has closed the ranks on the veteran.
“I had clear information that at the time of the Malappuram Lok Sabha bypoll Mani had struck a deal with the CPM. It began with a move to switch sides in various local bodies and overthrow UDF nominees in power. The Kottayam district panchayat president election was a litmus test of this plan,” Chennithala told Express. “But only a few in the UDF and the Congress believed it,” he said.
Chandy has a master plan to capture the KC(M) base, especially in the central Travancore terrain. That several KC(M) workers and MLAs are not enthused about Mani and his son’s plans only adds strength to Chandy’s move.
“The response of the Catholic Church and the community’s mouthpiece towards Mani’s moves was cold,” said a close associate of Chandy. “A majority of the Kerala Congress support base cannot be moved to the Left overnight or even in the long run for obvious reasons. If vested interests in the Congress don’t play spoilsport, both the CPM and Mani will be finished in this game,” he said.
“The CPM will have to pay a heavy price - politically and electorally - for establishing any sort of association with Mani after baying for his blood in the past. The reverses will not be confined to a particular region,” said Chandy. “So, Mani and Jose K Mani will find the going very tough,” he said.
We no longer need K M Mani and Jose K Mani. But we are keen all others in the Kerala Congress should remain with us. It all depends on the Congress approach to win over the rank and file in a concerted manner without agitating them Oommen Chandy
Feeling betrayed, RSP goes for Mani’s jugular
Kollam: Kerala Congress (M)’s expedient romance with the CPM to grab the Kottayam district panchayat polls has left a jilted Congress frothing at the mouth. Joining the sortie, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), a coalition partner of the UDF, on Thursday launched a no-holds-barred attack against its estranged partner K M Mani.
Mincing no words, RSP leader Shibu Baby John said more than the solar scam or Saritha issue it was the bar bribery case- involving KC(M) supremo K M Mani- that cost UDF in the Assembly polls. While demanding Mani and the CPM clear the air regarding their alliance, Shibu also said the new entente will polarise the political landscape in the state.
“KC (M)’s alliance with the CPM is an internal issue. Mani has the right and freedom to associate with any faction. But at the same time, Mani is bound to answer a few questions regarding the pact,” he said at a function at the Press Club. During the UDF regime, the CPM had raised a string of charges against Mani, including budget ‘leak’ and tax exemptions provided to poultry establishments, jewellers and ayurvedic beauty product companies. But now it seems they had pushed these allegations under the carpet, he said