Thiruvananthapuram: The United Democratic Front (UDF) began its innings in the Opposition on a note of differences, which leaders hardly bothered to conceal.

The front leaders chose to hold separate press conferences to give their reactions to the Governor's address, departing from the tradition of jointly giving their response.

The Kerala Congress (M), which is sulking over the denial of a Rajya Sabha seat to the party, made it clear that it would hold a separate press conference to give its reaction.

The Congress leadership followed suit, with Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy turning up for the post-address briefing with his Congress Legislature Party office-bearers in toe.

Asked about the departure from usual practice of a joint press conference, Mr. Chandy feigned ignorance, and said it could have been out of his inexperience as Opposition Leader.

But the Kerala Congress (M) carried out its threat that it would stay away from the UDF till the "unilateral styles of functioning" were corrected.

Mr. Mani and Mr. Chandy's respective stands forced Indian Union Muslim League Legislature Party leader C.T. Ahmad Ali to hold a press conference separately.

Mr. Mani was initially reluctant to reply to questions on the denial of the Rajya Sabha seat. Later, in reply to a question, he said the Opposition Leader was answerable to the public as to why his party's just claim was not considered.

The respective positions of the senior leaders deprived the other smaller partners a chance of expressing their viewpoints.

Mr. Chandy hoped that the UDF partners would be able to put up a united face and any expression of dissatisfaction by any of the constituents would affect the coalition's functioning.

"We don't want this to happen," he said. In reply to a question, he pointed out that the Kerala Congress (M) had been allotted a Rajya Sabha vacancy in 1995 consequent to A.K. Antony's resignation to take up the mantle of Congress leadership in the State.

None of the UDF leaders gave any indications whether the tiff would continue on Monday when the House takes up the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address.

Both the Congress and Kerala Congress (M) leaders appeared to be reluctant to vitiate the situation any further, but circumstances seems to be pushing them apart.

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