Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala has expelled Kerala Congress (Jose K Mani faction) from its alliance.
The action has come after the Kerala Congress faction led by Jose K. Mani, MP, rejected the UDF's direction to comply with the rival faction’s demand to share the post of Kottayam district panchayat president.
The UDF leadership said Mani faction did not abide with the understanding to vacate the post. The UDF convener Benny Behanan said the decision was taken after several consultations and given time. He said the Jose faction did not comply with the decision of the UDF leadership even after many rounds of consultation. He added that the Mani faction is no longer eligible to remain in the UDF.
However, Mani faction argued that there was no understanding regarding Kottayam district panchayat. The Jose faction accused the UDF of giving in to pressure from P J Joseph, the leader of the other faction in the party.
Benny Behanan said he would not invite Jose K. Mani faction to attend the UDF meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
UDF said Sebastian Kulathungal of Jose K. Mani faction had to resign from the post of panchayat president and hand over the post to the other faction in the Kerala Congress. According to the front's understanding, after eight months the post of district panchayat president should have gone to the Joseph faction for a period of six months.
The Jose faction had said that the post of district panchayat president could not be given as a reward to a man who switched the party overnight.
P.J. Joseph had warned that he would bring motion of no-confidence at any moment if Jose K. Mani faction did not resign from the post. Joseph had said the Congress and the Muslim League had given assurance in this regard and also his move was based on the assurance given by the UDF.
