LDF opens doors for JDU, but Veeran Kumar still doubting

Kozhikode: Pressure is mounting on Janata Dal (United) leader  M.P. Veerendra Kumar to switch his alliance to the LDF to strengthen the anti-Sangh Parivar campaign at the national-level. This would weaken the UDF which will also lose  the support of a vernacular newspaper like ‘Mathrubhumi’ and its news channel patronised by  Mr Veerendra Kumar. Though  he  wants to join the LDF,  the Congress would like to retain him in the UDF. 

His return to the LDF would threaten the position of Janata Dal (secular) headed by Mr Mathew T. Thomas.  But the LDF  has asked the  JDS to consider a merger with the JDU to consolidate  socialist unity  in the state, it is learnt.    

Mr Veerendra Kumar told reporters on Wednesday that he had discussions with his earlier colleagues K. Krishnankutty and C.K. Nanu, but failed to meet Mathew T. Thomas.   

LDF sources revealed that they had not arrived at a consensus on the  modalities for the  re-induction of his faction.   CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan  told reporters here that the re-entry of  Mr Veerendra Kumar was  yet to be discussed. But the  state and national leaderships of the CPM and the CPI have welcomed him to the Left-fold.

Mr  Veerendra Kumar had a bitter experience from the CPM during his earlier stint in the LDF. He had launched  the Socialist Janata Democratic in 2010.  His support to Mr V.S. Achuthanandan in the intra-party squabbles of the CPM and his stand on the earlier Munnar eviction drive  had antagonized the then  Pinarayi faction. The Adivasi Kshema Samithy (AKS), the tribal arm of the CPM,  had also started a land-grab  agitation in a coffee plantation owned by Mr Veerendra Kumar and his family. 

However, the visit of Mr Pinarayi Vijayan to  the home of Mr Veerendra Kumar when the latter was convalescing after a serious illness  in February  had warmed their relations.    Since then,  there were many  attempts to bring him back to the LDF fold, but  Mr  Veerendrakumar remained hesitant.