Kerala Congress (M) to support UDF in Chengannur by-election

Chengannur: Kerala Congress (Mani) has decided to vote for United Democratic Front (UDF) in the upcoming Chengannur assembly by-election. The sub-committee for deciding the party decision met here Tuesday following which party chairman KM Mani informed the decision to the press.

Mani said that the decision to support UDF was taken in protest against the government's anti-farmer policies. He alleged that both the state and central governments were neglecting the farmers. He added that ony regional alliance can resist the communalism that was growing in the country, and Kerala Congress has decided to stand together with secular forces at the national level.

Kerala Congress will arrange participation of UDF candidate D Vijayakumar at Kerala Congress convention. But he said the entry to the front will be decided later. Mostly significantly, KM Mani also made it clear that he was always a person who would pardon enemies.

Earlier, on Monday UDF leaders had met Kerala Congress leader KM Mani at his residence seeking support in Chengannur by-election. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, KPCC president MM Hassan, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Muslim League leader PK Kunjalikkutty MP called at Mani's residence in Pala at around 3 PM on Monday.

The meeting was arranged by Kunjalikkutty and attended by Mani and his son Jose K. Mani. The meeting took place on the eve of the declaration of Mani's political stand in Chengannur on Tuesday.

Kunjalikkutty told Mani that they had came to seek support for UDF in Chengannur election.

Mani replied that his stand will be declared after Kerala Congress sub-committee meeting. He said that the party's return to UDF has to be discussed at various levels of the cadre. He also conveyed the details of the meeting to P.J. Joseph, Working Chairman of the party, in the presence of UDF leaders.