Janata Dal (S) wants JD-U to quit UDF in Kerala

KOTTAYAM: The Janata Dal (S) today said the Kerala unit of the JD (U), led by M P Veerendrakumar, should quit the ruling Congress-led UDF if it was keen to achieve the goal of re-unification of Socialist groups, which was the professed aim of the recent merger of Socialist Janata Democratic (SJD) with the JD (U).

"If the Kerala unit of the JD (U), now led by Veerendrakumar, is keen to achieve the goal of re-unification of Socialists as an alternative to the Congress and the BJP, then that party should come out of the UDF", JD (S) state president Mathew T Thomas, MLA, told a press meet here.

On its part,the JD(S) was prepared to make certain organisational adjustments if that would help re-unification of the socialists. But the party was not ready for any sort of compromises on its political approach and ideals. This would mean that a possible merger of JD (S) and JD(U) required the latter snapping its ties with the UDF, he said.

The SJD, led by veteran socialist and former union minister MP Veerendrakumar merged with JD(U) a few days ago at a conference in Thrissur attended by JD(U) national president Sharad Yadav.

For longtime a partner of LDF as head of the JD(S), Veerendrakumar left the coalition a few years ago following differences with the state CPI(M) leadership and went on to become a partner in the UDF.