Ironically, the crisis has been created by the Government Chief Whip, P. C. George, whose job is to ensure the smooth functioning of the UDF! But, then, this is not the first time that the UDF has plunged into crisis because of George, who belongs to the Kerala Congress(M), an ally of the Congress in the UDF.

The latest crisis flared up following an outburst by George, who accused the UDF leadership of fielding a weak candidate from the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency. As if that was not enough, George also voiced his doubts about the chances of Congress candidate Dean Kuriakose, from Idukki. George also angered the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) by his uncharitable comment that the IUML candidate from Malappuram, E. Ahmed was too old to attract voters.

George’s comment evoked an angry reaction from the Congress candidate from Pathanamthitta, Anto Antony. Antony charged George with trying his best to reduce his votes in the Poonjar and Kanjirappally constituencies, which are part of the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha seat. Incidentally, George is the sitting MLA from Poonjar, where he fields considerable influence.

Why is PC George angry? That is the question being asked by various quarters. Informed sources say there is a method behind the outbursts of George, who had been kept away from the UDF campaign by the Front leadership. This had upset George, who, it is said, was waiting for the right opportunity to get even with his critics not only in the Congress but also in other parties which constitute the UDF.

It is also an open secret that George was unhappy about the Congress’s refusal to give the Idukki seat to the KC(M), which has an emotional attachment to the seat. The KC(M) had tried unsuccessfully to get the Idukki seat. But the Congress refused to concede the party’s demand. This, according to informed sources, led to the Congress’s indifferent campaign in both Idukki and Pathanamthitta. The infighting in the UDF has, understandably, gladdened the LDF camp, which thinks the front has a very good chance of wresting both Idukki and Pathanamthitta from the UDF.

Interestingly, the Congress itself seems divided on the George outburst issue. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy raised many an eyebrow by rushing to the defence of George. Chandy went on record to say that he does not believe that George had worked against the Congress candidates in Pathanamthitta and Idukki!

Another interpretation of the George comment is that both George and the KC(M) were taking an ‘anticipatory bail’. They do not want to be blamed for the possible defeat of the Congress candidates from IKdukki and Pathanamthitta. And that the George criticism was part of the offence-is-the-best-defence strategy!

An uneasy truce has been brokered with the intervention of KPCC president V M Sudheeran and KC(M) chief K M Mani who has requested both the warring camps to stop the war of words. But George being George, the truce is unlikely to prove lasting. The KPCC executive and the UDF high-power committee are scheduled to meet on April 22 and 23 respectively. The George issue is likely to be discussed in detail therein. (IPA)