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Cong. infighting will not affect UDF poll prospects: Mani

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA Nov. 11. The Kerala Congress(M) leader and Revenue Minister, K.M. Mani, has said that the `groupism' in the State unit of the Congress would not affect the election prospects of the UDF in Thiruvalla.

Addressing a press conference at Thiruvalla today, Mr. Mani reiterated the UDF stance that the ensuing Assembly by-election in Thiruvalla would not be a political contest.

According to Mr. Mani, "the UDF had placed before the people a development agenda two-and-a-half years ago and the overwhelming people's mandate to the late Mammen Mathai was on the basis of this agenda. The UDF has fielded Elizabeth Mammen, wife of the late Mammen Mathai, for the fulfilment of its promises to the people of Thiruvalla.''

Mr. Mani said the UDF was confident of Mrs. Mammen's victory. He added that this would help the overall development of the constituency.

Asked about the `I' group decision to disassociate itself from the UDF election campaign in Thiruvalla, Mr. Mani said that neither the `I' group leader, K. Karunakaran, nor the KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, had made such a statement. Instead, Mr. Karunakaran had blessed the UDF candidate and wished her victory in the electoral battle, he added.

Reacting to the reported statements of the KPCC general secretaries, Rajmohan Unnithan and N. Venugopal, that the candidate in Thiruvalla was the "candidate of the KC(M) and not that of the UDF'', Mr. Mani said, "what matters to us are the words of the KPCC president''. Mr. Muraleedharan had presided over the UDF election convention in Thiruvalla, Mr. Mani pointed out.

Mr. Mani alleged that the LDF zonal rally in Thiruvalla, reportedly to `press' its demand for convening an Assembly session to discuss the `notice' against the Speaker, was actually held to politicise the election campaign in Thiruvalla. According to him, it was the prerogative of the Cabinet to decide whether to convene the Assembly or not.

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