Kochi: The P J Joseph faction of the Kerala Congress (M) has said that senior leader C F Thomas would be the party's next chairman. The announcement was made by P J Joseph at the end of the leadership meet of his faction on Saturday.
Joseph also criticised the other faction for electing Jose K Mani, son of former party chief K M Mani, as the chairman during an 'unofficial' meet held last month.
"If those who left the party are ready to rectify their mistakes and return, we can continue to work together. As per the party's constitution, a meet called by us, who have the authority, is the official one. A person, who did not have the authority, called a meet and picked a chairman in 3.5 minutes. They also faked the signatures of three leaders who did not take part in the meet. The meet was riddled with fraud.
“As several rounds of talks were on, I did not call for a meet despite Jose K Mani's constant demands. What can we do if one calls for an unofficial meet during such a time and declares himself as the chairman?" Joseph sought to know.
Kerala Congress (M), the third largest party in the United Democratic Front, plunged into a leadership crisis after the death of its chief K M Mani in April.
On the upcoming assembly bypolls, Joseph said, “"We would back the candidates that the UDF picks for the upcoming assembly bypolls. If Nisha Jose K Mani (wife of Jose K Mani) is picked as the candidate in Pala, we would back her.
"When I, as the party leader in the assembly, call for a walkout, Roshy Augustine and N Jayaraj used to join. They would agree on the party chairman in the future too," P J Joseph claimed.
Meanwhile, C F Thomas said that this was the official meet and that all the party members were united. Joy Abraham, Thomas Unniyadan, and Saji Manjakadambil, who were with the Mani faction, took part in the Saturday’s leadership meet.
The meet also criticised the state government's move to end the Karunya lottery project, which was envisioned by K M Mani for the upliftment of the poor. The leaders demanded that the Karunya project be continued until the new medical insurance project came into effect.
