Mani group firm on denial of seat; Joseph to continue in UDF
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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Congress (M) working chairman, who was denied a Lok Sabha nomination by the party, held discussions with senior Congress leaders here on Wednesday. He met Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, AICC General Secretary Oommen Chandy and KPCC President Mullappally Ramachandran.
However, for the time being Joseph will continue to be part of Kerala Congress's Mani faction, and if a situation arises in future compelling him to leave the party, he should be able to continue as part of UDF. That was the thrust of his talk with the leaders. He further cautioned the Congress leaders that if the UDF candidate loses in the Kottayam constitutuency, he should not be blamed.
Joseph told mediapersons after his talks that UDF leadership would take a collective decision in the matter after discussions. He was accompanied by Mons Joseph MLA and former MP, TU Kuruvilla.
Earlier, the official sources of Kerala Congrss (M) had taken the stand that the denial of seat to PJ Joseph was a decision taken after sufficient internal consultations, including the steering committee and local leadership of the party and therefore could not be reconsidered. That set the leadership of constituents of UDF into action including Congress and Muslim League to mend fences between the two Kerala Congress factions.
In the ligfht of such efforts, Joseph is said to have advised his followers not to take any precipitatinmg action that will endanger his faction's position in subsequent political equations. Therefore, he is said to have admonished them to wait and see.
