UDF allies meet Sonia Gandhi, warn of rout in Assembly election

Kottayam: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi held on-to-one meeting with the UDF coalition partners at the Government Guest House at Nattakom in Kottayam on Wednesday.

They have reportedly warned Sonia Gandhi of a possible rout of the UDF in the upcoming Assembly election if the rift in the Kerala unit of the Congress party and the concerns of the coalition partners remain unsolved.

After holding talks with the Congress chief, state Industries Minister and IUML leader P.K Kunjalikutty said they conveyed their opposition to the Congress on many issues.

“We told Sonia Gandhi that the UDF can win in the next Assembly election if the issues in the Congress are solved,” he said.

IUML general secretary K.P A Majeed and E.T Muhammed Basheer, MP, accompanied him.

The Kerala Congress representatives also demanded the Congress chief to resolve all the issues in the Congress before the election.

Kerala Congress (M) chief K.M Mani said they asked her to see with the assembly polls coming up soon, there should be a fair attitude when it comes to seat distribution among the UDF constituents.

"Also we have raised concern about some Congress leaders publicly airing statements that have hurt the minority communities. We do not wish that to happen. She gave us a patient hearing," said Mani.

“The Congress has not done anything to resolve the farmers’ issues. The rubber price is going down,” said Mani.

K.M Mani, C.F Thomas MLA, Joy Abraham MP, Francis George and minister P.J Joseph represented the Kerala Congress team who visited Sonia Gandhi.

Minister Anoop Jacob, representing the Kerala Congress (J), said they demanded to get the four seats in the election as it was allotted in the last election.