KC(M) deserts long-time ally UDF in Kerala

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the secretary of the Kerala unit of Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM, an arch rival of Congress, said with the departure of KC (M), the Congress has been politically and organisationally decimated in Kerala.

The KC (M) also announced that its six party MLAs would now sit as a separate block in the state Assembly.

“They got classes on how to defeat us and there were funds (flowing)”. He also said that the foundation of a political front is based on trust, mutual love and help. “Faith and love among the front partners has eroded and we are considered as an enemy”.

For the past two days, the leadership of the Congress factions were involved in internal discussions over the future of the UDF.

Mani had previously alleged that a conspiracy by some Congress leaders was behind the bar bribery case against him.

Mani, who was forced to resign as finance minister during the UDF’s rule following a bribery scandal, was miffed that the front did not stand by him in his hour of crisis. “There are other reasons also”, he said.

He would instead concentrate on strengthening his party as an independent force in Kerala. Kerala Congress, formed in 1964, has a history of switching fronts and has suffered many splits since its inception.

State Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said Mani would regret the decision.

The UDF lost the 2016 Kerala assembly elections to the LDF. “The decision at a time when people want democratic forces getting stronger is unfortunate”, he told reporters here.

Mani said that The Kerala Congress (M) has shown that it can stand alone in Kerala politics. He rejected Mani’s charge that a section in Congress had tried to weaken and “insult KC-M and its leaders”.

LDFconvenor Vaikom Viswan said the UDF should be dissolved as its “dominant leader” – Chandy had always described Mani as a “dominant leader” – had quit the alliance. Asked specifically if former chief minister Oommen Chandy was behind the moves, Mr Mani said, “I am not naming anyone”.

The allegation is seen as a reference to the case filed against Mani on the basis of an allegation that he had received bribe from bar owners to give them licences when he was finance minister in the previous United Democratic Front government. He said the only thing Kerala Congress objected to was being informed about the seat sharing over phone.

Mr. Chandy said he was pained by the decision and said that every effort had been made to solve the various probems between the two parties at various stages. “Congress has tried to sort out all issues”, he said.