Jose K Mani's son justifies joining with CPI-M for panchayat prez poll

Kottayam: Kerala Congress(M) Vice Chairman Jose K Mani, MP, today justified the district leadership's decision to join hands with CPI(M) in the district panchayat president polls, saying it was a reaction against those who had been continuously humiliating the party.

Kerala politics had witnessed hectic activities in the past two days after KC(M), erstwhile ally of the Congress-led UDF, won the district panchayat president's post, defeating the Congress nominee.

Jose K Mani, son of Kerala Congress(M) supremo K M Mani, said the district leadership's decision has helped the party uphold its self-respect.

"The understanding reached with CPI(M) during the District Panchayat President polls.... It was a reaction from Kerala Congress workers against those who had been continuously humiliating the party", said Jose K Mani on his return from a tour to the United Kingdom.

KC(M) capturing Kottayam district panchayat with support of CPI(M) had kicked up a political storm in the state.

Facing flak from various quarters, including Congress and a powerful section within the party over the ties with CPI(M), Mani had yesterday said the decision to seek support of the state's ruling party was unfortunate and it was taken at the local level.

Mani had said the party leadership had not given any directive in connection with the panchayat election and the decision taken at the local level could not be seen as a prelude to the KC(M) joining the LDF camp.

KC(M) had last year severed its ties with UDF following differences on the bar bribery scam, over which Mani was forced to resign as the Finance Minister.

Jose K Mani described as a "creation by media" the reports that differences have cropped up between veteran leader P J Joseph and Mani over the issue.
He alleged that certain sections in the Congress were working against the KC(M).