KC(M) to seek all options, including leaving UDF alliance

Kerala Congress (M), a key ally of the Congress-led opposition UDF, today said the party would consider "all options", including leaving the alliance, in protest against the approach of Congress leaders towards it and its leader K M Mani.
"It is a matter of our self-respect. We will seek all options," senior KC(M) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Joy Abraham told PTI when asked whether the party would quit the UDF.
Accusing Congress leaders of hatching a 'conspiracy' to weaken KC(M) and Mani, he said the party would decide on all issues at its crucial two-day camp at Charalkkunnu this weekend, including the demand within the party to severe ties with Congress and UDF and sit as a separate block in the state Assembly.

"So far no decision has been taken (on the issue of leaving UDF). Everything will be deliberated threadbare in the Charalkunnu camp, being organised on August 6 and 7," he said.
The party, which contested the Assembly polls in May this year as a UDF alliance partner, has six MLAs, including Mani and veteran leader P J Joseph.
KC(M) leaders alleged that the party was "ignored" by Congress leadership despite it taking extra steps to save the previous UDF government by bringing Kerala Congress (J) to the alliance from the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

"It was because of KC(M) and our leader Mani that the UDF government could rule the state for five years from 2011 to 2016. If Kerala Congress (J)-headed by P J Joseph had not merged with us in 2010, there would not have been a UDF government in the state," a senior Kerala Congress leader who did not wish to be named, said.

He alleged that the Congress leadership continued to do injustice to KC(M). "We were not given adequate consideration by Congress and UDF leadership in seat sharing for local body and Assembly polls. Now it is a question of our self-respect," he said.
Meanwhile, party sources said Mani had left for a three- day spiritual sojourn at a church-run meditation centre in Kottayam.
The already sour relations between the two parties over the bar bribery scam sharpened recently after Congress leaders Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala attended the betrothal ceremony of the daughter of controversial hotelier Biju Ramesh with the son of Congress leader and former minister Adoor Prakash.

Biju Ramesh, working President of Kerala State Bar Hotel Owners Association, had levelled the bar bribery charge against Mani, which led to his resignation in November last year.
KC(M) has maintained that a "conspiracy" was behind the scam.