The Hindu : Kerala News : Kerala Congress groups trying to consolidate base

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Monday, Nov 12, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala Congress groups trying to consolidate base

Girish Menon

Unity move aimed at remaining politically relevant in State

Plan to become a regional force in State
CPI(M) move viewed as a bid to divide UDF votes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The recent moves of the Kerala Congress splinter groups to forge a common platform appear to be an attempt of their leaders to remain politically relevant.

The leaders have already held a round of discussion on the move. Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader T.M. Jacob, Kerala Congress (Secular) leader P.C. George and Kerala Congress (Pillai) leader R. Balakrishna Pillai held a meeting in Kottayam recently to work out a formula. Kerala Congress (M) leader K.M. Mani has welcomed the move to consolidate the Kerala Congress base which would turn out to be beneficial to each of these parties in the long run.

The Kerala Congress (J), a partner in the LDF government, does not seem to be enthusiastic about it, as it is satisfied with the accommodation it has got in the Cabinet. But the promoters of the common platform believe they will be able to attract several Kerala Congress (J) leaders who favour such a development.

It is not clear whether the Church is supporting such a move, given the base the Kerala Congress parties have among various denominations in the Christian community in the State. According to a senior Kerala Congress (M) leader, the ultimate objective of forging a common platform is a united Kerala Congress. But the prevailing animosity among the leaders runs deep and it would be difficult to make unity.

The current moves, according to him, are different from the earlier ones. Most of the Kerala Congress parties are going through bad times, with their leaders facing virtual oblivion. Except for the Kerala Congress (M), the rest of the other streams have become virtual non-players in Kerala. The proposal is that the leaders will share a common platform on major issues affecting the State, seeking to occupy the space of a regional force highlighting Central neglect of the State in as diverse sectors as agriculture and industry. According to some of the Kerala Congress leaders, Kerala has turned out to be a loser in the UPA-CPI (M) alliance, with many of its rightful demands being overlooked. Sharing of platforms will also give an opportunity to restore relations between leaders.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M’s) recent moves to directly reach out to certain denominations of the Christian community have also prompted the Kerala Congress to think of a common platform.

The CPI (M)’s open confrontation with the Catholic Church is being viewed as a strategy to divide the UDF vote base which comprises not only the Catholic Church but also the non-Catholic Christian communities such as Jacobites and Orthodox Syrians. While the Catholic Church has been on a confrontational course with the CPI (M) over issues related to religious belief, the other Christian denominations are concerned about economic issues related to self-financing institutions and the disputes between some of them.

With the coming together of the various Kerala Congress parties, this issue will be partially addressed, according to the assessment of Kerala Congress leaders. There is, however, a block to unity efforts.

The Kerala Congress splits at various points of time were the outcome of personality clashes among the leaders.

The common platform can be sustainable only if these leaders are willing to make sacrifices, according to Kerala Congress (M) leaders. Since all the leaders of the Kerala Congress parties have initiated their sons into politics, the unity issue is wide open to enable the “new generation” to take over.

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