KM Mani asserts his Kerala Congress not looking for allies

Kottayam: A week after his party parted ways with the Congress-led United Democratic Front, severing three decades old ties, Kerala Congress-Mani supremo K.M. Mani on Sunday reiterated his party will not align with any political front.

Besides the UDF, Kerala has the ruling Left Democratic Front led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance that opened its account in the Kerala assembly by bagging Nemom seat from the capital city.

"Even though our enemies have increased, we have nothing to fear as we have the full support of the farming community," Mani, a former state Finance Minister, said while addressing his party workers here. 

Ever since Mani left the UDF fold, indirect invites from both the LDF and the BJP have come his way, but Mani has dismissed all speculations of joining the NDA, which his detractors say could fetch his son Jose K. Mani, a Lok Sabha member, a Cabinet post.

"We realised that some in the UDF along with our enemies were conspiring against us and that`s how we decided to leave. I am grateful to all of you for having accepted our decision," said Mani.

Six Kerala legislators, including Mani, have since decided to sit as a separate block in the assembly whereas two members of parliament from his party have been directed to offer issue-based support.