Kerala Congress quits UDF

Charalkunnu: Kerala Congress (Mani) has decided to sever ties with the United Democratic Front and sit as a separate block in the Assembly.

Party Chairman K. M. Mani announced the decision after a special camp of the State Committee of the party and meeting of Steering Committee at Charalkunnu on Sunday.

The Chairman said that certain Congress leaders had made deliberate attempts to defame the party, especially the party leader, with the objective of weakening the party. The party was quitting the Front to uphold its self-respect.

Mr. Mani said that the party would act as a responsible Opposition with independent views in the Assembly and maintain equidistance among the Left Democratic Front, United Democratic Front and the National Democratic Alliance.

He said that Kerala Congress (M) would adopt an issue-based approach towards the UPA nationally. Existing agreements in local self-governments and cooperatives in the State will continue.

He said that UDF had been weakened owing to unjust moves and failure to observe political decencies. The Kerala Congress decision would help UDF constituents to introspect.

Mr. Mani alleged that certain Congress leaders had deputed special ‘battalions’ to defeat Kerala Congress (M) candidates in the Assembly elections and had funded and coached them. Mutual trust had been lost in the UDF. However, Kerala Congress (M) was leaving the Front with sadness and not with any feelings of enmity.