Kerala Congress(M) heading for split?

KOCHI: Kerala Congress(M) headed by veteran leader K M Mani appears heading towards a split with a group led by former Lok Sabha member Francis George, son of Kerala Congress founder leader K M George, planning to form a new party and join the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF).

George, who is unhappy with the growing clout of Jose K Mani -- son of K M Mani-- in the Kerala Congress (M) would very soon take a decision regarding the formation of a new political formation, sources in the group said. "Yes, things are moving towards a split. We will have to quit the Kerala Congress(M) and create a new political party," a source close to George told PTI. The group, also comprising leaders including ex-MLAs K C Joseph and Antony Raju, was in talks with Left leaders, the source said.

Another leader P C Joseph, a known opponent of Mani, is also expected to join them.

The leaders planning to constitute the new political party were part of Kerala Congress (Joseph) led by water resource Minister P J Joseph before it merged with KC(M) ahead of assembly elections in 2011. Though they claimed that they have blessings of Joseph, lone representative of KC(M) in the UDF-government after the resignation of K M Mani over bar bribery charges, there was no immediate comments from him. Meanwhile, KC(M) leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Joy Abraham said in Pala that the party is united and it will not be affected by any sort of such moves.

Francis George's father K M George is the founder leader of Kerala Congress, a political party, which later experienced several splits ever since its formation in 1964.