Left says no plan to form Govt by splitting UDF

KOCHI: Rumours that the opposition Left Democratic Front could lure the Kerala Congress (Mani Group) into its fold by offering the chief minister's chair to its leader KM Mani were put to rest after the Communist Party of India clarified that there were no such plans.

The ruling United Democratic Front government headed by chief minister Oommen Chandy rules the state with a wafer-thin majority. Chandy, whose name has been linked to the solar panel scandal, has been under intense pressure from the opposition to resign.

"UDF has a majority. Let the government continue. But they should change the chief minister," said Pannyan Ravindran, state secretary of CPI, after a meeting with CPI (M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan.

The rumours were triggered after Ravindran made a statement early in the day that Mani has the "maturity and experience" to be a chief minister. He is also more respected than Chandy, the CPI leader had said.

"Time and changing political circumstances will decide whether K M Mani will become the chief minister. There will be a lot of changes in the state politics before the Lok Sabha polls."

A statement by PC George of KC (M) that Mani is capable of being the chief minister added to the speculation. However, Mani denied the news. "Nobody has contacted me from the Left Front," he said. "I have not held talks with anyone on this," he said. "I am not in the race to be the chief minister. It is not our party's position. The news that I will be the chief minister is a ploy by opposition," he explained. "If someone from the opposition has some good words to say about me, why should I deny it?"