In Kerala, we are on strong wicket: Congress leader

In Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front is on a strong wicket while the same cannot be said of the Left opposition, a senior Congress leader said on Saturday.

State Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said this while interacting with reporters during his ongoing statewide yatra (tour), currently in the third district Kozhikode.

Sudheeran was reacting to questions on speculation that one of their allies Janata Dal-United here led by media baron M.P. Veerendra Kumar is all set to return to the Left fold, of which they were an integral part till 2009.

"The Left appears to be moving forward with no confidence and hence their eyes are perched towards us. But I wish to point out that, within our UDF, things are in fine shape and all our allies are firmly with us and we have no problems at all," said Sudheeran.

Kumar, of late has been dropping hints of being upset with the manner in which his party is being treated in the UDF and his presence with CPI-M politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan in the state capital at a book release function recently had set tongues wagging that the veteran might return to the Left fold.

"What I have been observing in the yatra that I am currently undertaking, the JD (U) workers are coming out in good numbers. Everything is fine with us," Sudheeran added.

Meanwhile, in the state capital Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and former defence minister A.K. Antony held a closed door meeting and discussed the political situation in the state.

With assembly polls around the corner, the Congress led UDF is determined to create history by becoming the first government to retain power and for that, unlike in the previous assembly polls, the Congress leadership is leaving nothing to chance.

All the top leaders of the party have decided to bury the hatchet for a common cause and through this they expect to reign in their allies when it comes to seat distribution.

The yatra that commenced on January 4 will conclude on February 9 in the capital city.