Kottayam: Jose K Mani has been elected as Chairman of Kerala Congress (Mani) by the party''s State Committe which was not attended by another faction led by senior leader and Working Chairman PJ Joseph, who termed it as illegal, here on Sunday. The new development in the Kerala Congress, the third largest ally in the Congress-led United Democratic Front, (UDF) indicates that the party is heading to an inevitable split.
Though PJ Joseph claimed that only the working chairman has the right to convene the State Committe, Jose K Mani, party vice chairman and son of late KM Mani, convened the meeting to elect new Chairman. Though Jose K Mani urged PJ Joseph to convene the State Committe, PJ Joseph refused to do so leading to convening of a parellel meeting to elect the new Chairman. The dispute over the Chairman post came into light after the demise of 86-year-old founder chairman KM Mani in April. KM Mani was also the parliamentary party leader in the State Assembly. PJ Joseph claimed that the meeting was against the constitution of the party.
However, out of 450 State Committee members, 325 attended the meeting. Though Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, IUML leader PK Kunjhalikutty have tried to avoid a split in the Kerala Congress, they could not find an amicable solution acceptable to both the faction. Three MLAs who support PJ Joseph also did not attend the meeting. Senior leader CF Thomas also not came for the meeting.
|