Signs of the growing factional strife are available from the tussle over the post of chairman, which has fallen vacant since the passing away of the party’s seniormost leader, K. M. Mani on April 9.

With both the factions led by Mani’s son, Jose K. Mani and the number two in the party, P. J. Joseph staking claim to the top post, the factional feud is inexorably moving towards a showdown.

What has incurred the displeasure of the dominant Jose Mani group is the action of party general secretary Joy Abraham in naming P J Joseph as the temporary chairman till a new chairman is formally elected.

Attempts to effect a compromise are on. But Joseph seems to have set his sights firmly on the post of chairman in view of his seniority in the party.

But the Jose K. Mani faction, which claims the support of 10 district presidents of the party, are opposed to giving Joseph the top post.

A compromise formula which envisages making Jose the chairman and naming Joseph the Parliamentary party leader is in circulation.

But indications are that the Jose faction is in no mood to accommodate Joseph, who, they feel, could deprive Jose of the top post.

The crisis has taken a new turn with the issue being taken to the court. Kollam district general secretary of the party, M. Manoj has managed to secure an order from the court that the meeting to commemorate Mani should not be the venue to elect the new chairman!

The petition filed by Manoj has also challenged the elevation of Joseph as chairman of the party. Manoj also claimed that party general secretary Joy Abraham had no authority to appoint Joseph as the part-time chairman. Only the State Committee of the party, Manoj added, had the power to appoint a new chairman following the death or removal of the chairman. .

Whatever the denouement, one thing is clear. If the dispute is not amicably settled, the crisis could lead to a parting of ways between the Jose and Joseph factions.

Such a development would also affect the cohesion of the Congress-led UDF, which is hopeful of putting up a good show in the Lok Sabha elections. The top Congress leaders have so far avoided interfering in the dispute. But they are understandably worried about the confrontationist ambience in the KC(M). The next few days could prove crucial for the future of the KC(M). (IPA Service)