KC(M) leader Mani rubbishes speculations of eying CM's post

Kerala Congress(M) leader and state Finance Minister K M Mani today rubbished reports of him exploring the possibility of pulling out of the Congress led UDF to become Chief Minister with the support of LDF.
Senior CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, whose name has figured in connection with speculations in this regard, also denied he had held parleys with Mani on the possibility of toppling the Oomen Chandy government and support the KC(M) leader's candidature to the top slot.
"This question of Kerala Congress(M) leaving the UDF is irrelevant. All reports in this regard are mere media creation," Mani told reporters here.

Mani also refuted that he had held secret parleys with Kodiyeri ad said "I met Kodiyeri during the last Assembly session. That was not a secret meeting."
The speculation gained currency after a Kerala Congress functionary made an open call for making 81-year-old Mani the Chief Minister considering his stature and experience.
There have also been reports that the KCM, a major partner of the Congress for long, is enthusiastic about the proposal and even held inner-party discussions on such a possibility.

Though the Congress has refrained from reacting to the reports, KPCC General Secretary and former minister Pandalam Sudhakaran had a couple of days ago made a facebook posting, calling on Mani to come clean on the speculation.

One of the oldest regional parties of the country, KC(M), with a strong support base among the Christian community in the Central Travancore region, has nine legislators.
Mani, who has been a minister in most UDF Governments since 1970s, has the record of presenting as many as 11 budgets.
Meanwhile, CPI state Secretary Pammiyan Raveendran said it had been his party's avowed stand that it would not agree with any move to come to power by horse trading.
He, however, added that the party would not be averse to holding talks with KC(M) if it came out of the UDF.

"What is happening now is a reflection of the inner troubles in the UDF", he added.