Chengannur: Kerala Congress still in dilemma

Kottayam: Kerala Congress (M) is in a quandary as to who to support in the imminent by-poll for Chengannur assembly constituency. As per most recent reports available, though the party's steering committee has been convened for 11^th this month, opinion is divided down the middle between supporting the LDF and UDF.

But one thing is clear: as of now there is no strong view among any group within the party in favour of BJP candidate PS Sreedharan Pillai, although in the run up to the poll, there was a time abuzz with talks about KM Mani tilting towards the NDA, in return for an eventual berth in the central cabinet for his son Jose K Mani. Political trends took several turns since then, most pertinent of which is the rank and file of Kerala Congress feeling that a tie-up with BJP, a party with an anti-minority kernel, would be against the very grain of Kerala Congress, whatever be the short-lived baits thrown by the BJP leadership.

KC leader Mani himself is said to be mulling choices between LDF and UDF; the pro-LDF elements in the party have been toying with the idea for long, primarily intended at teaching a lesson to the UDF leadership for ditching the leader in a most critical time of the bar bribery scam, and Mani's atypically unkind statements in the process.

The party also feels KC-M may not be that welcome in UDF for certain sections of the Congress, though some recent attempts at rapprochement were made by Muslim League leader PK Kunhalikutty. The UDF camp also recalls the support UDF candidates received in the last by-polls in Malappuram Lok Sabha and Vengara assembly constituencies where KC-M gave support to the Muslim League candidates. However, those were candidates of Muslim League with whom Mani has little quarrel. UDF also feels that if outwardly Mani's party would declare conscience vote, in a constituency like Chengannur that would imply vote for UDF, with the rank and file sentiment mostly being pro-UDF.

On the other hand, the CPM has made no secret of its yearning for KC-M votes, as indicated by state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that his party would welcome any votes except that of RSS, read as including Mani's. All the same, CPM falls short of an open call for co-operation with Mani mainly in view of the opposition from its coalition partner CPI. Kanam Rajendran, CPI state secretary has been consistently, and vociferously, opposing any truck with Mani. The CPI is unprepared to forget that the LDF's main agitation during the last UDF government was mainly against Mani's bar bribe scam.

All the same CPM would rather not take chances in the electoral equations, especially the constituency is a sitting seat and that too when Pinarayi Vijayan's ministry is celebrating its second anniversary. With that, plus the added possibility of BJP's Sreedharan Pillai pulling a slice of its votes, CPM intends to pull all stops to pocket votes from all possible sources.

For Mani, apprehensions exist for both choices. A return to UDF would mean some loss of face, and a turn to LDF may not be a seamless mesh, particularly an all-India level left unity is very much in the cards. KC-M may hardly qualify in such a front, and for the CPM, Mani's Congress would then become more a liability than strength. The CPI opposition to a Mani-link also looms as a threat to KC-M's smooth entry. Internally within the party itself, there are elements opposed to CPM and Mani is said to have sent signals to CPM that in case of Mani supporting CPM, the latter should do some convincing with such leaders.