(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Leader of Keralas largest regional party has become the most sought after leader in the southern state.Finance Minister K M Mani (80) who heads the 50-year-old Kerala Congress is being wooed by both the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
While the CPM has assured Mani that he will not be out in the political wilderness if he quits the Congress-led ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) the BJP has offered to accept him into national politics with both hands.
The CPM stand was articulated in an article written by politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in the party mouthpiece Deshabhimani. Describing Mani as the most qualified leader in Kerala today to become the chief minister the article indirectly welcomes the longest-serving minister in Kerala to the LDF fold.
The article was taken seriously by political observers as it came amidst reports that the CPM leader had held secret parleys with Mani on quitting the UDF. The reports said that the party had offered to make Mani chief minister for the remainder of the present term of the UDF government if he switched over to the LDF with nine MLAs.
The opposition needs only eight members to oust the Oommen Chandy government. In the 140-member Kerala assembly the UDF has 75 members while the LDF has 65. Mani who had associated with LDF in the past denied any move to quit the UDF. He said that he had not dreams to become the chief minister.
The BJP invitation to Mani has also come in the form of an article in the party mouthpiece Janmabhoomi. The article says that all regional leaders who came to politics along with Mani had become chief ministers. The article appearing in the editorial page says that the BJP would accept Mani with due respect.
The BJP which is yet to open its account in the state has been wooing the Kerala Congress factions in a bid to make an inroad into the Christian belt. The coalition led by BJP had won a Lok Sabha seat in 1999 in alliance with a minor faction of the Kerala Congress led by P C Thomas.
The Kerala Congress factions have been keeping BJP away because of the fears among Christians that it is a communal party. However the BJP believes that the perception is fast changing and the party will be able to get the support of not only Christians but also the Muslims.
Curiously the Janmabhoomi article has come on the day BJP national President Amit Shah called on the party workers to focus on Kerala and Tamil Nadu. He said that the party had won votes in these two states but failed to convert them into seats.
Meanwhile Kerala Congress (M) general secretary Antony Raju has rejected the BJP invitation. He said that the party had no plans to quit the UDF in Kerala and UPA at the national level.
newskhaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes and on Twitter at khaleejtimes Follow khaleejtimes ->
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.