KC-M supports Cong nominee to defeat CPI-M candidate

Kottayam: Kerala Congress (M), which had joined hands with CPI(M) in the Kottayam district panchayat president elections, Thursday did a U-turn by supporting a Congress nominee for the post of Vice President in a gram panchayat in the district.

Kerala Congress (M) headed by K M Mani, which is having eight elected members in the 21-member-Vazhappally gram panchayat in Changanassery, extended support to Sheela Thomas, Congress' candidate for the post of vice president, to defeat the CPI-M nominee.

The Left party has nine elected representatives while Congress four elected members in the gram panchayat.

Congress DCC president Joshi Philip hailed the verdict, saying it was a clear message to Mani from the workers of the Kerala Congress (M) that they were not ready for an "unholy alliance" with CPI(M).

Mani's decision to accept CPI(M) support for the district panchayat president polls had reportedly created an unease in the party.

A prominent faction in the Kerala Congress (M), headed by P J Joseph, said there was nothing wrong in Congress' accusations of "political betrayal" in Kottayam.