Pala/Kozhikode: Transport Minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader A K Saseendran hit out at Pala MLA Mani C Kappan on Saturday over the latter's decision to move to the United Democratic Front (UDF), confirming a split within the party's Kerala faction.
Speaking to mediapersons at Kozhikode, Saseendran, a senior NCP leader, said that party chief Sharad Pawar is unlikely to support the decision to leave the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Saseendran termed Kappan's move as injustice towards the Left front.
“Most of the district leadership stands with me. None of them would consider leaving the front with Kappan,” Saseendran said.
Saseendran committed to LDF
Saseendran, who is the party's sole representative in the Pinarayi Vijayan ministry, is unwilling for a drastic political move at this juncture as the state election is approaching. He has been dependent on the CPM for his back-to-back victories from the Elathur constituency in the last two assembly polls. Elathur is a stronghold of the Left front, particularly the CPM. A section of the CPM wants it to take over the seat from the NCP owing to its poor base in the state.
Kappan adamant
Kappan, who had locked horns with the LDF leadership over its move to hand over the Pala legislative assembly seat to the Kerala Congress (Mani) faction led by Jose K Mani, has already made clear his stand to shift to the UDF camp.
Kappan is all set to contest the Kerala Assembly Election from Pala as a constituent of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), which has already welcomed it to its camp.
Kappan is set to join the UDF formally on Sunday at meeting scheduled in conjunction with the rally led by opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. He has made elaborate preparations for his entry to the UDF camp at least a week ago. As per the plan, Kappan will take out a procession of his supporters on Sunday when the UDF rally, named Aishwarya Kerala Yatra, led by Chennithala enters Kottayam.
Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Muslim League general secretary P K Kunhalikutty and Kerala Congress (Joseph) chairman P J Joseph will be present in Kottayam to receive Kappan.
Kappan will travel in an open jeep led by 1,000 supporters on motor bikes and join the rally. On Tuesday, he had arranged an open jeep for himself besides 1,000 bikes for his supporters.
