PJ Joseph wants Thomas to become KC(M) chief

Kottayam: Kerala Congress (M) working chairman P.J. Joseph has stuck his neck out and opposed anointing Mr Jose K. Mani as chairman of the party following the death of its patriarch K.M. Mani. Saying that he was not in the race, Mr Joseph wanted that deputy chairman C.F. Thomas should assume the top post.

"I will stake my claim for the parliamentary party leader of the party in the Assembly," he told this paper.

The move to appoint Mr Jose K. Mani, son of K.M. Mani, as chairman is not acceptable to Mr Joseph as Mr Jose comes only after the working chairman and the deputy chairman in the hierarchical order. "I have a right to become the parliamentary party leader as I was second to K.M. Mani in the Assembly," he said.

When the Kerala Congress (Joseph) and KC(M) merged, Mr C.F. Thomas was the KC (M) chairman. K.M. Mani took over the post only later. So Thomas is entitled to become chairman, Mr Joseph added.

"I have communicated this formula to the party leaders who will accept it," he said.

It may be recalled that Mr Joseph had earlier failed to get the Kottayam Lok Sabha seat due to strong opposition from Mr Jose and his supporters.

Mr Joseph's latest move is to thwart Mr Jose K. Mani's plans to wrest the party machinery.