KC(M) will not join any political alliance, says Mani

Kottayam (Ker), Aug 26: Kerala Congress(M) supremo K M Mani today categorically said his party, which left the Congress-led UDF in the state earlier this month, would not join any political alliance in the state.

Mani also hit out at the CPI, a day after the Left party opposed any move to bring KC(M) in the fold of Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the CPI(M).

"I have made it very clear that we (the KC-M) will not join any political alliance. I don't understand why CPI is scared of us," he told reporters in his hometown Pala near here. Attacking the CPI, which has been opposing any move to welcome KCM into the LDF fold, Mani said his party did not need any advise from the Left party, "which has a history of selling its Lok Sabha seat" during a general election.

A state Committee meeting of the CPI held in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday had decided to convey its stand to the LDF that the party was against any move to bring KC(M) and Muslim League in the fold of ruling alliance.

The party discussed the issue in detail after some positive vibes being sent to the KC(M) and Muslim League by some CPI(M) leaders recently. Meanwhile, Kerala Congress (Jacob), a minor partner in the Congress-led alliance, today urged Congress high command to take initiative to bring KC(M) back to the UDF camp.

Party senior leader and ex-MLA Johnny Nellore said the UDF has lost its strength following KC(M)'s decision to quit the alliance. Earlier this month, the KC(M) had pulled out of the Congress-led UDF of which it was a part for more than three decades. The party would be "equidistant" from Opposition UDF, ruling CPI-M-led LDF and BJP-led NDA, Mani has said.

PTI