Troubles in UDF is like a fixed football match: CPI leader

Seizing on the internal troubles in the Congress-led UDF over the issue of taking KPCC chief Ramesh Chennithala into the Oommen Chandy cabinet, CPI state secretary Panniayan Raveendran today said the ruling coalition reminded him of a football match manipulated to deny Chennithala access to the ball.
"Every other player on the ground appear determined that Chennithala does not get a chance to touch the ball. They, including UDF convener P P Thankachan, are manipulating the match through tricky passes to ensure that KPCC chief never gets access to the ball," Raveendran, an avid football buff said at an interaction with scribes at the Press Club here.

"The sole suspense that remains to be seen is who is going to score the self-goal," he said, referring to the rumblings in the Congress' state unit and ruling UDF over the question of inducting Chennithala in the rank of Deputy Chief Minister, a move that met with stiff opposition from major ally, Indian Union Muslim League.
He claimed that the UDF rule in the last two years had been a big failure and the state had not moved forward in any sector. Pursuing policies that matched those of the UPA at the Centre,government had made the life of common people miserable, he charged.

Raveendran, however, said toppling the government through "devious means" was not on the agenda of the opposition LDF.