IANS/Thiruvananthapuram

 

In a world of coalition politics, when alliances of parties take place more out of convenience than conviction, 80-year-old Finance Minister K M Mani and his Kerala Congress-Mani are much sought after.

The Left opposition in Kerala has made clear that if Mani decides to move out of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), he will not be out in the political wilderness. An edit page article in yesterday’s Bharatiya Janata Party’s organ Janmabhoomi said Mani will be accepted with both hands in national politics if he decides to come over.

“When some decides to come, history itself would be re-written,” says the Janmabhoomi article, giving enough hints that the BJP will treat Mani with due respect.

Mani is perhaps the only legislator in the country who has an outstanding record of winning every election since 1967 -from the Pala constituency in Kottayam district - and one who has presented a dozen state budgets.

In the past two weeks, the media was buzz with speculation that Mani and his party are being wooed seriously by the Left opposition. Congress spokesman Pandalam Sudhakaran then had to seek the help of social media and through a post in his Facebook page asked, “Why is Mani sir not opening his mouth on the media speculation?”

The speculation was that if Mani jumps from the UDF along with eight of his fellow party legislators, the Left will make him the next chief minister of the state for the remainder of the present term of around 18 months.

In the 140-member Kerala assembly, the ruling UDF has 75 members while the Left opposition has 65. Hence, if Mani decides to move on, the present Oommen Chandy government will be reduced to a minority.

Soon came Mani in full public glare and said he himself had not thought of these issues.

“There is no thought of any such thing and I will open my mouth when I wish to,” said Mani.

Meanwhile Chandy reacted angrily and criticised the media for “creating news”.

“In the past there was an ‘owner’ for statements but today it’s more of assumptions and presumptions. Please do not worry about the UDF; we are united and function as a well oiled unit and there are no issues at all,” Chandy said.