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Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has returned from a tour of Dubai but ruled out a hasty decision on the implosion in the Kerala Congress (M), the second largest constituent of the United Democratic Front (UDF).
On touching base, he told newspersons that he would speak to them in detail later.
He is expected to confabulate with the warring chieftains of Kerala Congress (M) — chairman KM Mani, who is also the State Finance Minister, and vice-chairman PC George, who is the government Chief Whip.
But the main protagonists in this war of attrition are not speaking to the media. Mani has chosen to slip into the confines of a monastery in rural Thrissur for ‘retreat and self-reflection’ ahead of Easter on Sunday. This has led to rumours that he might have opened the doors for backroom diplomacy, giving enough time for interlocutors to find an acceptable solution to the crisis.
George too seems to have sought spiritual solace towards the latter part of the Holy Week and has been staying away from mainstream media for the last couple of days.
Mani is adamant that George be divested of the post of the Chief Whip for sustaining a targeted harangue not just within the party but also in the larger UDF.
George must also be removed from the membership of the UDF liaison committee, which would deny him the right to walk into its meetings as a member of Kerala Congress (M).
Mani maintains that the post of the Chief Whip is purely party munificence, something which George has refused to buy. The latter has countered saying that it was the UDF that granted him the post and only the coalition can take it way from him.
Observers say Mani is literally asking for trouble by keeping him in, since ‘no hell hath fury like PC George scorned.’
The latter can be expected to rake up the contentious succession plan in the party, built around Mani’s son, Jose K Mani, an MP and heir apparent. George is known to have befriended a few MLAs who make common cause with him on this issue.
Suffice to say the CM has his hands full to ensure that his government holds on to the slender margin of seven in the House of 140.
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