Kerala: Another split imminent in Cong (S)

KALPETTA: Already bitten by a split in South Kerala following the seat-sharing discussions in the LDF, the Congress(S) is facing the same trouble in North Kerala now. A major section of the district-level leaders of the Congress (S) feels that Kadannappally Ramachandran is considering the party as a personal affair and making decisions according to his whims and fancies.

The leaders have realised that their prospects in the party - which was forced to be content with just one seat in the Assembly elections - are bleak. It is learnt that the party leaders from five North Kerala districts would meet soon in Kozhikode to decide the future course of action. P M Joy, state vice-president of the party, will attend the meeting.

“The party is now functioning like a private limited company with a lone man at the helm. Even as the other tiny parties in the LDF have managed to grab a better share in the seat allocation, we got only one seat, that too for Kadannappally,” P M Joy told ‘Express’.

“We can’t continue in a party which is focused on a single individual,” Joy added. However, a section of leaders in Kozhikode and Kannur districts who are close to the LDF said that the party workers may continue in the LDF until the election is over, as it is improper to ditch the front at this juncture.

“Many of us joined the Congress(S) at various points of time after quitting other political parties due to various reasons, expecting a better political career,” said a district leader from Kannur on condition of anonymity.

“But we never thought the party would become so individual-centric. It is utter foolishness to sacrifice your whole life in such a party, but we don’t want to create a headache for the LDF now.”

P M Joy was enlisted as a prospective LDF candidate in the 2006 Assembly elections in Sulthan Bathery constituency. This time, with the CPM’s P A Muhammed contesting in Kalpetta, the lone general seat in the district, Joy had no chance.

Though ‘Express’ tried to contact Kadannappally Ramachandran for his reaction on the rift in the party, he was not available.