THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The intense clash of interests at the top echelons of the minuscule Kerala Congress (B) came out in the open on Saturday with Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar, the lone MLA of the outfit,declaring his willingness to quit the UDF Ministry after his name was struck from the post of party vice-chairmanship. The simmering feud between R Balakrishna Pillai and his son spilled out at the party’s state committee meet with Pillai’s aides alleging that ‘he is of no use to the party.’By the time Ganesh arrived for the meet, the election of office-bearers was over. “I was removed from the party post not on account of corruption or any wrongdoing. The party chairman (Pillai) had brought some persons and asked them to speak out,” Ganesh Kumar told reporters.“He (Pillai) has told the media that a decision on the ministership (continuance) will be taken in two weeks. Let him decide. I’m ready to step down if the party demands it,’’ Ganesh Kumar said. He said he would not cling to ministership after his ouster from the party post. He also said he could win an election from his sitting Pathanapuram Assembly segment on his own. He said he had informed his stance on ministership to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Chandy, however, said there was no need for Ganesh to quit his post. The internal problems of constituent parties will not impact the functioning of the UDF Government, he said.Pillai told reporters later that there is difference of opinion between the ‘minister’ and the party. “Party workers have such a feeling,’’ he said. On Ganesh continuing as minister,Pillai quipped: ‘’It is for the party state executive to decide.’’ Balakrishna Pillai had met Chandy on Friday and reportedly aired his strong reservations against Ganesh.
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