K. M. Mani goes into retreat prior to crucial decision

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani has gone into a retreat prior to two-day camp of his party’s State Committee, beginning on Saturday at Charalkunnu, which is to take crucial decision on the party continuing in the United Democratic Front.

Mr. Mani will be spending the next four days in a Catholic Retreat Centre in Kottayam where there are restrictions on visitors and interactions over phone.

Party’s general secretary Joy Abraham had announced that camp would discuss issues including the Kerala Congress leaving the UDF and sitting in a separate block in the Assembly. (The party has six members in the Assembly.)

Mr. Mani has held consultations with party MLAs before going for the retreat. Though former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has also met him, he reportedly could not mollify Mr. Mani.

Mr. Mani’s grouse is that the some Congress leaders were behind the bar-bribery allegations against him. He or his party representatives did not attend the meeting of UDF held in the residence of Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala a few days ago.

Meanwhile, the Congress high command has called Mr. Chandy, Mr. Chennithala and KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran for talks in Delhi on organisation restructuring and the move by Mr. Mani.

As Mani is out to strike back at Congress leaders, it is clear that Mr. Chennithala could not broker a rapprochement.  This could weaken the position of Mr. Chennithala in the on-going deliberations with the high command.

There is speculation that Mr. Mani may move towards the BJP as there is scope for his son getting a ministership at the Centre.

However, Kerala Congress (Mani) leader P. J. Joseph is reportedly not very enthusiastic about leaving the UDF. Mr. Mani would have to iron such difference before he could strike back at Congress leaders.