The Hindu : UDF keenly watching LDF rumblings

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 23, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

UDF keenly watching LDF rumblings

By Girish Menon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM June 22. The UDF leadership is keenly watching the rumblings in the LDF over the Mathikettan eviction issue, especially in the context of reports that the Kerala Congress(J) and the Kerala Congress(M) are coming closer.

Even though leaders of the two parties, K M Mani and P J Joseph, have scoffed at the speculation, it has not ended the debate on the possibilities of such a development. The two leaders have not made any moves so far and much of the speculation about merger has its roots to the earlier moves they had made a few months prior to the Assembly elections in 2001. The fact that the two Kerala Congress factions are having problems with their respective coalition partners has also stoked the speculation.

It is very clear that the Mathikettan eviction issue, instead of unsettling the ruling UDF, has shaken the LDF leadership. Interestingly, it is the CPI, which has many scores to settle with Mr Joseph, which has picked up a row with the Kerala Congress(J) over the latter's decision to go ahead with the campaign against eviction of settlers in the area prior to January 1977. The CPI leaders were the first to accuse the Kerala Congress leader of flouting the LDF understanding.

Mr Joseph's position also blunts the current campaign by the Leader of the Opposition, V S Achuthanandan, targeting the Kerala Congress(M) on the encroachment issue. If the LDF leadership takes a hard position at the LDF meet on June 25, Mr Joseph would not have any other option but to quit the front.

In the event of such a development, Mr Joseph could exercise the option of mending fences with Mr Mani. In the current political situation, the Catholic Church would like to see the two leaders shed their larger than life images and egos and come together. As a far as the Congress leadership is concerned, it does not want the two Kerala Congress factions to come any closer because it could change the entire complexion of Central Travancore politics, with the senior UDF partner turning out to be the loser.

The CPI(M) leadership, which has so far made weak noises on the Mathikettan eviction issue, too would like to see Mr Joseph continuing in the LDF. Ever since its recent Party Congress, the party has been trying to relate itself to issues affecting the minority communities. But unfortunately in Kerala, a section of the leadership appears to be determined to take on the Catholic community.

While deciding whether Mr Joseph should continue in the LDF, the CPI(M) leadership would apparently have to ponder whether it would be in its larger interests to shed what is perhaps one of its bridges with the Catholic community in Kerala. There is a general feeling in the Congress circles that the CPI(M) cannot carry its secular platform too far without addressing such issues affecting minority communities. In this context, there is a section in the Congress which feels that the stand-off in the LDF would have its predictable end, with the LDF leadership agreeing to a formula which would accommodate Mr Joseph.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

'UDF hand' in re-encroachment

Kochi to be included in super highway

UDF keenly watching LDF rumblings

When the `toddy culture' changes