Kottayam: Kerala Congress-J(KC-J), a constituent of the ruling LDF, is heading for a split with rival factions for and against the party chairman PJ Joseph`s move to merge with Kerala Congress-Mani(KC-M)and quit the ruling Front, holding parallel meetings here Friday.
The anti-merger group led by former Union Minister P C Thomas and V Surendran Pillai, MLA, is likely to adopt a resolution asking Joseph to refrain from the move to integrate
the party with KC-M to make its way to the Congress-led UDF.
Joseph has also called a state committee meeting of his party in the afternoon which is expected to authorise him to go ahead with the merger plan, KC-J sources said.
Joseph is also likely to announce his decision to quit the V S Achuthanandan ministry in which he holds the Public Works portfolio.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Congress, which has viewed the merger of KC factions with much less enthusiasm, is also meeting in Thiruvananthapuram and it would discuss the
political fallout of the recent development.
According to KPCC sources, though the PCC executive meeting was scheduled earlier, the KC issue would naturally figure in the discussions.
By and large, Congress in the state is opposed to yielding to any `undue demand` that might come up from a united Kerala Congress. Also, many in the party have strong reservations against the entry of Joseph to UDF since the coalition had over the years hurled several charges of corruption against him.
PTI
