Mani says no mediation could change KC(M) decision

A day after Kerala Congress (M) severed its long-standing ties with UDF, party supremo K M Mani today said no mediation would help change its decision even as the Congress said talks for a patch up would be made only after discussions among partners.

"We have taken a decision not in the anticipation that it would lead to debate or discussion. We stand by our decision (to severe the ties with the UDF)," 82-year old Mani told reporters in his assembly constituency Pala in the district.

He was responding to a question on the reported move by key UDF partner IUML to carry out a mediation effort.

"We welcome discussions. But on this issue, are mediation efforts just enough? ...We have already taken a decision," Mani, who has been sulking since being forced to quit as finance minister last year over the bar bribery scam, said.

He said KC(M) had nothing to fear as the party had proved its strength by fighting elections alone in the past.

Meanwhile, BJP started sending positive vibes to the KC(M), saying the saffron party has no "untouchability" towards the Mani-led party, which is wielding considerable clout among Syrian Catholic community in central Kerala.

Giving a jolt to the Congress, KC-M yesterday announced its decision to snap over three-decade old ties with UDF citing "humiliation" meted out by Congress.
The party, which was the third largest partner in the UDF after Congress and IUML, also decided to function as a separate bloc in the state assembly.

In Thiruvananthapuram, UDF Chairman Ramesh Chennithala said a decision to have further talks for a patch up with the KC(M) would be taken only after discussions among the front constituents.

"Congress and other front parties never did anything to force Mani to quit UDF. There were no issues that could not be resolved. Mani should have taken up his party's problems within the front," he told reporters.

However, he added: "I am of the view that KC-M should remain in the front."