The wily Chief Minister has well and truly been caught in the cross-fire between Finance Minister K. M. Mani and his deputy, P.C. George, whose simmering differences have boiled over, to the dismay of the Congress and other partners in the ruling United Democratic Front coalition Government.

Hell broke loose when a meeting of the Kerala Congress(M) Legislature Party meeting took a decision to demand the removal of P.C. George from his position as Government Chief Whip. An angry Mani has sent a letter to the Chief Minister seeking George’s immediate removal. But the crafty Chandy has delayed a decision on the ground that he would be out of the country for a few days. He is scheduled to return from a visit to the Gulf countries on April 2. Before leaving for Dubai, Chandy said he would take a decision on his return after consulting the allies in the UDF.

But the task is easier said than done. And Oommen Chandy, whose political management skills are legendary, knows that. Hence his decision to buy time, hoping against hope that tempers will cool down by the time he is back in the State capital.

But with both Mani and George refusing to budge an inch from their stated positions, Chandy will have to delve deep into his political experience to come up with a formula acceptable to one and all. The CM’s loyalists admit in private that his ability to weather political storms will be put to a severe test this time around.

What has deepened the Chief Minister’s dilemma is the ultimatum served by both Mani and George. Mani has made it clear that he wants a decision by April 3, failing which he may be forced to take unpleasant decisions. Mani not only wants George divested of the chief whip’s post he also does not want him to be a part of the UDF any more. Since the support of the 8 KC(M) NLAs who are with Mani, is crucial for the survival of the Government, Chandy cannot ignore the ultimatum.

On his part, P.C. George has also given the CM time till April 6. If the UDF leaders fail to take a ‘decent decision’ by then, he may be forced to speak out, which may create acute embarrassment to the UDF government in general and the CM in particular.

It is an open secret that the CM and the UDF are scared of George as he is privy to many a sensitive decision taken by the CM and the Government. Besides, George has bailed the Chief Minister out of many difficult situations. That George was instrumental in getting former CPI(M) MLA Selvaraj to leave the CPI(M) and cross over to the UDF is well known. Similarly, his fulminations against a judge in the palmolein case in which Chandy is also embroiled resulted in the judge being removed from the post. This being the case, it is not at all easy for Chandy to throw George out of the UDF to please Mani.
And George has not made matters easy for the CM. In his latest interaction with a TV channel, George has warned the CM of dire consequences if he is stripped of the Chief Whip’s post. The irrepressible chief whip is on record that he is not one to run away from the battlefield; and that he is not a fool to quit as an MLA simply because Mani wants him to do so.

Be that as it may, it is also true that, for once, the loquacious George, whose acerbic tongue has spared few leaders in his own party or of the allies in the UDF, is at the receiving end. . The only leaders who have not been ‘stung’ by his waspish tongue are IUML leader and Industries Minister P. K. Kunhalikkutty and Home Minister, Ramnesh Chennithala!

While George is ready to step down as the Government chief whip, he wants to remain part of the UDF. This he hopes to accomplish by reviving his party, Kerala Congress(Secular), which he merged with the KC(M) while joining hands with Mani years ago. He says he agreed to merge the KC(S) at the prompting of Chief Minister Chandy, KC(M) chief K. M. Mani and Industries Minister Kunhalikkutty. Now he wants these three leaders to allow him to revive the KC(S) and remain in the UDF fold.

However, the problem for the CM is that Mani is vehemently opposed to this. The Finance Minister, who is in the eye of the bar bribery scam, says enough is enough and he is no more prepared to endure George’s taunts and anti-party outbursts.

It remains be seen how Chandy gets himself and the UDF out of the tightest corner into which he has painted himself. Next week could witness developments which will have a crucial bearing on the future of the UDF Government.

On its part, the opposition Left Democratic Front is watching the unfolding events with keen interest. CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that his party would take a decision only after George comes out of the UDF. If George is really serious about battling corruption – George is on record that Mani should have stepped down as soon as the bar bribery scam surfaced – then he should first quit the UDF.

Turbulent days are ahead in Kerala politics. That is for sure whichever way the cookie crumbles. (IPA Service)