THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two months after the assembly poll debacle in Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) suffered another jolt on Sunday when its oldest ally, the Kerala Congress (Mani), severed ties with the coalition.
Announcing the decision in Kottayam, Kerala Congress chairman KM Mani said his party was forced to take the extreme step to uphold its pride. He came down heavily on the state Congress leadership, saying it used all the opportunities to “insult and discredit his party”.
Upset with the decision, UDF leadership has asked the Kerala Congress (M) to quit all the posts it won while in coalition.
Mani was nursing an uneasy relationship with the Congress after he was forced to quit the Oommen Chandy Cabinet over the bar bribery scam.
“Several Congress leaders worked against the party and tried their best to weaken us. We can’t suffer humiliation anymore,” said Mani, adding his legislators will sit as a separate block in the assembly.
A predominant Christian party, Kerala Congress (M) has six legislators in the state assembly.
{{/usCountry}}A predominant Christian party, Kerala Congress (M) has six legislators in the state assembly.
{{/usCountry}}Mani said his party will keep equal distance with the opposition UDF and the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). Desperate to open an account in the state last year, the BJP had wooed him vigorously. Even though he dismissed the claim that he will join the NDA, speculation is rife that he will eventually move to the right-wing camp.
Former chief minister Oommen Chandy dubbed the incident as unfortunate saying that the party’s exit from the coalition was the result of some misunderstandings.