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Mani firm on his stand on Rajya Sabha seat

George Jacob

KC(M) leader says the issue is non-negotiable as it had already been settled

KOTTAYAM: Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani has toughened his stance on the Rajya Sabha seat issue and said his party has taken the issue `very seriously' and will go `to any extent' to realise the public commitment the Congress leadership had made to him in 2005.

Speaking to mediapersons just before the meeting of the Kerala Congress (M) Legislature Party here on Monday, Mr. Mani said the issue was not negotiable as it had already been settled. It was an undertaking taken on behalf of the United Democratic Front (UDF) by the then UDF chairman Oommen Chandy and publicly announced before the media in unequivocal terms at the Cliff House in Thiruvananthapuram on May 24, 2005 that the next vacancy would be given to the KC(M). "There is no room for any conciliatory talks on the issue. What remains is the implementation of the commitment made by the Congress to the Kerala Congress (M)," he said.

Referring to the observations made by KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala on the issue, Mr. Mani said the Congress might have its own compulsions to have the seat, but that was besides the point. He also said he was not aware of the `peculiar situation' in the Congress party referred to by the KPCC president. According to the Kerala Congress leader, the meeting of the party secretariat scheduled for June 14 in Thiruvananthapuram will take stock of the developments and take a final decision, including that of the candidature. The last date for filing of nominations is June 16.

Reacting to a question, Mr. Mani said the only issue remaining in the controversies surrounding the Maithri housing project was whether the Chief Minister would give green signal to a vigilance inquiry into the issue.

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