THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The political ambition and greed of Kerala Congress(B) chairman R Balakrishna Pillai scuttled his entry to LDF. Pillai who was trying to piggy ride Scaria Thomas, Chairman, Kerala Congress(Scaria) for an entry to LDF changed tunes when the deal was almost finalised, sources said.
Pillai has earlier admitted to play second fiddle to Scaria in the party and Kerala Congress(B) would merge into Kerala Congress(S). Piilai and Thomas had called a press conference to announce their merger on Monday but later cancelled when Thomas backed off.
After the meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Kollam guest house on Monday and when the media widely reported on the imminent merger, Balakrishna Pillai came out with his true colours.
It may be noted that Scaria Thomas and his political party has been a constituent of the LDF for the past several years and Pillai's only option for an entry to the front was to piggy ride Thomas which was foiled scuttling even the chances of KB Ganesh Kumar MLA becoming a minister at a later stage.
The veteran Kerala Congress leader-it is learnt- called upon Scaria Thomas and wanted the Chairman post for himself and put the condition that Thomas and his party should merge into Kearla Congress(B) .This left Scaria with no option but to backtrack.
Scaria Thomas while speaking to Express said” We had a broad agreement that I will be the Chairman and that R Balakrishna Pillai continues to hold the Cabinet post he is having. However, things turned tipsy topsy when Pillai went back on this”
When asked whether there are possibilities of a rethink Scaria Thomas said” We can look into all possibilities”
R Balakrishna Pillai while speaking to Express said "This was a move initiated by Scaria Thomas and we decided to merge in the presence of Chief Minister but I don't know why he went back from the move.” On whether there are possibilities of further moves on this Pillai said” I am of the wish that all Kerala Congress parties which are supporting LDF be together and united to strengthen the front.”
When asked whether Ganesh would have got a ministerial berth post merger,Pillai said” No, we have never put forward any such demands”.