Jose convenes KC(M) state panel today

Kottayam: The Kerala Congress (M) is headed for a split with the Jose K.Mani faction convening the party state committee here on Sunday.

The faction is planning to elect a new chairman at the meeting to be held at the CSI retreat centre hall, it is learnt. A press release said that a letter signed by 127 members was given to the working chairman, deputy chairman and vice- chairman, as per which the state committee has to be convened.

The seniormost member, Prof K.A. Antony, will convene the meeting as  working chairman P.J. Joseph had ignored their repeated demands for it.

The release said that after the demise of chairman K.M. Mani, they had wanted the party to stand united. However, the letter given by Mr Mons Joseph MLA to the speaker  regarding the position of Mr Joseph in the Assembly had  created divisions in the party.

The intention behind giving the letter without even discussing it with the party MLAs was dubious, the release said and alleged that even while speaking about consensus through statements, the letter sent by Mr Joseph anointing himself as the chairman, temporary chairman and working chairman was a violation of
organisational norms.

His repeated stand that the state committee will not be convened had torpedoed the moves for consensus and unity.  Their demand from the beginning  was that the state committee should be convened to elect a chairman by consensus or through democratic means, it said.

Those supporting Mr Jose K. Mani tried to adopt a mature stand though Mr Joseph gave statements  misinterpreting the party constitution to create division in the party, the release said.

By directly convening a group meeting of those supporting him, Mr Joseph was trying to split the party, it alleged. The meeting held on Friday was a violation of all limits of political decency and organisational principles, it added.  

The memorial meeting of K.M. Mani organised in  Thiruvananthapuram at a hall where ten people could participate was a disrespect to him.  A big wound was created in the minds of those who respect K.M. Mani that even 60 days after his passing away, no state committee was convened condoling his
death or releasing his picture, it said.