Kerala Congress to stay with LDF, rumours indicating change of fronts is media creation: Jose K Mani

Kottayam: The idea of changing alliances is not on the table for Kerala Congress (M), and the party will stand firm with the LDF," said Jose K Mani, Chairman of Kerala Congress (M). Speaking to reporters after a bilateral discussion with the CPM on Saturday, he addressed the rumors about Kerala Congress (M) leaving the LDF, dismissing it as mere political gossip.

"The decision to leave the UDF and join the LDF was made following Benny Behenan's announcement, then the UDF convenor, that Kerala Congress was ousted from the UDF. We now stand firmly by our decision to stay with the LDF. There will be no change. There will be wins and losses, but do you think a loss in an election would make us leave an alliance? This subject was introduced by a section of the media as part of political gossiping," said Mani.

 “Neither have we received any invite from anyone nor have we approached anyone. Kerala Congress has expressed its demands and credentials before the LDF in connection with the Rajya Sabha seat”, he said. 

With the defeat of Thomas Chazhikkadan in the election, Kerala Congress M had lost their one and only LS seat. Once Jose K Mani’s RS term is over, their representation in both houses of parliament would be reduced to nothing. It is in the wake of this situation that the party is trying to apply pressure on LDF.

When Kerala Congress M had entered LDF in 2020 during the Local Body elections, they were given enough seats to contest, including that of the seats of other parties. CPM too had compromised their seats. LDF had offered the post of president of Kottayam district panchayat when LDF had won the election. During the assembly election held in 2021, they were given 12 seats including that of Kanhirappally, a seat owned by CPI. CPM has given the party its due so far, said Jose K Mani. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan too had agreed that, the arrival of Kerala Congress (M) helped LDF. Under such circumstances, the party would not take any hasty decisions regarding RS seat. 

However, the party finds itself in a tricky situation as there was a huge erosion of traditional party votes in the LS elections held.  Apart from this election, Kerala Congress M had suffered considerable erosion of votes during the Puthuppally byelection too.