Adding fuel to the fire is the growing turmoil within the Kerala Congress(M) itself, which bodes ill for the cohesion and long-term stability of the UDF.
Exposing the rift within the Congress, the I group led by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has made no secret of its resentment over continued support to Mani. The I group leaders believe that the image of the Government has been severely sullied and that the people believe there is substance in the allegations of bribery and corruption levelled against Mani by the working president of the Bar Owners Association, Biju Ramesh. This being the stark reality, it will be increasingly difficult for the Congress to support Mani, I group leaders point out.
It was party spokesman, Ajay Tharayil, an I group leader, who set the ball rolling. Tharayil said the other day that this time around, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, not Mani, who should present then budget in view of the grave charges made against the latter. True, Tharayil was forced to retract the charge, but the rift within has clearly come out.
The I group is apprehensive that the bar bribery scam will have an adverse impact on the prospects of the Congress both in the upcoming local bodies elections this year and the assembly elections due next year.
Another reason why the I group is worried is Biju Ramesh’s threat to make more damaging disclosures against not only Mani but also some Congress ministers, who, he alleged, had also accepted money from the bar owners.
The I group is also against any hasty action against KC(B) chief, R. Balakrishna Pillai who had asked Biju Ramesh to demand a CBI inquiry against Mani. The conversation between Pillai and Biju Ramesh was revealed by a voice clip released by Biju the other day. The I group leaders are of the opinion that if action is against Pillai, then P C George should also be disciplined because the tape reveals George having a talk with Biju Ramesh as well on the bribe issue. In the tape George clearly says that his public statements in support of his boss, Mani should not be taken seriously! Significantly, both Pillai and George have authenticated the conversation contained in the tape released by Biju Ramesh!
The A group led by the Chief Minister, however, is apprehensive about precipitating matters by demanding Mani’s resignation. The group leaders feel that if Mani is pressured beyond a point, he may quit, withdrawing his party’s support to the Government. Such a denouement will cause the collapse of the Government – a luxury the UDF cannot afford at this juncture. Prominent A group leaders say in private that Mani should step down on his own, to avert the crisis from reaching a point of no return. But Mani is in no mood to oblige his detractors!
Meanwhile, trouble is brewing within the KC(M) as well with party vice-chairman and government chief whip, P. C. George strongly opposing the reported move to name Jose, K. Mani, MP and son of K M Mani, as his successor in case Mani decides to step down. In a strongly-worded statement, George, who has an acerbic tongue, said that the KC(M) is not ‘anyone’s family property’. There is no need to bring in an MP as there are many senior leaders like C F Thomas to take over the leadership when Mani makes his exit, asserted George.
But there are few takers for the George line. A few KC(M) leaders believe that the aggressive stand George has taken is to avert any action against him. A section of the KC(M) suspects George to be part if the conspiracy hatched against Mani by a section of Congress, Biju Ramesh and KC(B) president, R. Balakrishna Pillai, and they favour party action against George.
Speculation is also rife that a section of the KC(M) owing allegiance to Water Resources Minister P J Joseph is in a mood to quit the party and form its own outfit including other sections of the Kerala Congress factions opposed to Mani. Of course, Joseph group leaders have publicly denied such a move. But the denials have done nothing to discourage such a possibility.
It is not difficult to divine what George is upto. He has cleverly avoided directly demanding Mani step down. But he has broached the subject indirectly by opposing the move to name Mani's son as his successor should the need arise. Evidently, George has set his sights on a possible -post-Mani era in the KC(M), and he is keen to ensure his space in such a setting. It will be interesting to watch how George's detractors in the party who heavily outnumber his supporters, counter the clever move George has made on the political chessboard. (IPA Service)
CONGRESS DIVIDED IN KERALA OVER SUPPORT TO MANI
BIG TURMOIL GROWING IN KC(M) AS WELL
P. Sreekumaran - 2015-01-27 12:18
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The political storm battering the Congress-led United Democratic Front(UDF) Government has gathered greater force with the Congress itself sharply divided over support to beleaguered Kerala Congress(M) chief and Finance Minister K. M. Mani, who is in the eye of the bar bribery scam.