Kerala Congress (M) standing on its own feet, says K M Mani

Kottayam: Kerala Congress (M) chairman K.M. Mani said on Saturday  that none could destroy his party while it is standing alone without joining  any front  in the state.   “None should think that they can destroy the party by fabricating a false case. We will not take such threats seriously,”  Mr Mani said  while inaugurating the party's district convention at the Mammen Mappila hall here. Addressing the packed audience comprising the office-bearers of the party in the district, Mr Mani said   the party had decided to sit as a separate bloc because of its confidence in its strength.

He asserted that it will maintain the Kerala Congress tradition of winning the elections in 1965, 1967 and 1970.  Through  sincere efforts, the KC (M) will  address the concerns of the public and  solve them, he added.  Mr Mani alleged that the Thomson group had evaded  income tax at the time of the LDF rule. “It was me who found the income tax violation when I was the finance minister.  I had demanded to levy the penalty from them,”  he said.  Referring to the controversy on  issuing tax concession to a  firm in his last budget, Mr Mani maintained that it was not just  to raise allegations against the income tax concessions in a budget ratified by the  Assembly.

Earlier, hundreds of party members marched to the Mammen Mappila hall from the Collectorate and the Gandhi square in groups led by the constituency presidents.   KC(M) working chairman P.J. Joseph also spoke on the occasion.  KC(M) district president E.J. Agasthy presided over the meeting. Party leaders Jose K. Mani MP,  Joy Abraham MP, Mons Joseph MLA, Dr N. Jayaraj MLA, Roshi Augustine MLA and  Thomas Chazhikkadan among other  leaders were present.