In the last few days, 83-year-old Mani has spoken out about his differences with the Congress.
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Stating that there was no problem in the Front that could not be solved, Sudheeran said that all issues with respect to Kerala Congress would be sorted out.
According to this leader, KC (M) is unlikely to join the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) since the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM that leads the front has been its chief enemy when Mani was battling bribery charges.
“Chandy is out of town and once back will speak to Mani as he is a vital cog in the UDF and all things will be ironed out”, he said. “We will seek all options”, senior KC (M) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Joy Abraham told PTI when asked whether the party would quit the UDF.
In the 2016 Kerala assembly election, the UDF had lost power, with its seats down to 47 from the previous 72 in the 140-member assembly.
Senior Congress leaders in Delhi said Mani has been in talks with party’s state unit and while he hasn’t indicated clear reasons as to why he is unhappy, he has signalled he may exit the party soon.
The trip of the three leaders to Delhi assumes significance as it comes at a time when Kerala Congress (M) threatens to sever ties with Congress and sit as a separate block in the assembly following differences with that party. “Everything will be deliberated threadbare in the Charalkunnu camp, being organised on August 6 and 7”, he said.
The party, which contested the Assembly polls in May this year as a UDF alliance partner, has six MLAs, including Mani and veteran leader P J Joseph.
KC (M) has maintained that a “conspiracy” was behind the scam.
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The IUML leader has been given the task of pacifying Mani, who is miffed with the Congress-led UDF over the handling of bar bribery case. “There is nothing unusual in Oommen Chandy meeting Mani”, said Mr Sudheeran. “The Congress would also have gone to the extent of finishing off K M Mani like P T Chacko”, it goes on.
