Latest news with #KC(M)
New Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Jose K Mani's man-wildlife conflict remark reignites UDF return debate
KOTTAYAM: Amid growing speculation on the Kerala Congress (M) re-joining the UDF, the party's recent call to convene an urgent assembly session to address issues surrounding the escalating man-animal conflicts in the state is being interpreted as a strategic manoeuvre to part ways with the LDF. KC(M) chairman Jose K Mani's statement has already kicked up discussions within political circles, suggesting that the party is actively exploring ways, and reasons, to exit the Left coalition. According to sources, Jose has already held informal discussions with the Congress high command regarding the switch in alliance. Reports have pointed to the KC(M) chairman holding talks with senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and general secretary in-charge of organisation K C Venugopal in New Delhi. At the same time, KC(M) leaders said there was nothing political about Jose meeting Rahul and Venugopal as they are colleagues in Parliament. 'There is nothing inappropriate about Jose speaking with Rahul Gandhi or Venugopal. As of now, it's too early for any such discussion regarding KC(M) switching to the UDF,' said a KC(M) leader. The Kerala Congress leadership is aware of the general pro-UDF sentiments among its cadre.
New Indian Express
28-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Amid confusion, KC(M) resolves to stand firm with Left front
Speaking to reporters earlier, Jose asserted KC(M) is extremely satisfied with the LDF. 'There have been no talks (with the UDF) so far. There is no situation prevailing that necessitates a shift in our alliance. Even the UDF does not view the Nilambur results as indicative of a broader trend in the state. That is why it emphasises coalition expansion,' Jose K Mani said. Raising various concerns such as wildlife attacks and the Munambam land dispute, a section in the KC (M) has been demanding the leadership to leave the LDF for quite a while. They argue that continuing with the Left will be a setback for the party as their core vote base - settler farmers and Christians - has increasingly turned against the LDF, owing to various issues including forest department's failure to end wildlife attacks on forest fringes. The implications of the Nilambur bypoll result further exacerbated the situation. 'The party should interpret the Nilambur outcome as a critical indicator. Along with the consolidation of minority votes, anti-incumbency sentiments played a pivotal role in the defeat,' said a leader.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
KC(M) secretariat to meet amid buzz over possible UDF return
Amid intensifying speculation over a possible return to the United Democratic Front (UDF), the Kerala Congress (M) is set to convene a crucial meeting of its State secretariat in Kottayam on Friday. While the official agenda centres on preparations for the upcoming local body elections, party insiders confirm that the recent setback in the Nilambur bypoll is likely to dominate discussions. 'Concerns over anti-incumbency and growing unrest among settler farmers are real. From farm distress and frequent wildlife attacks to unresolved issues such as the Munambam land row, the party has much to renegotiate with its traditional vote base if it is to continue with the LDF,' a senior KC(M) leader admitted. At the same time, the party acknowledges that walking away from the LDF won't be easy. The CPI(M) has made significant concessions to keep the KC(M) within the alliance, including handing over a Rajya Sabha seat to party chairman Jose K. Mani. With no clear alternative alliance and considerable political capital already invested, the leadership remains cautious. Still, pressure is building within the party. Some factions view the current moment as an opportunity to demand a greater share of seats in the local body elections and revive the KC(M)'s grassroots strength. Whether chairman Jose K. Mani will endorse such a stance remains uncertain. In the meantime, the party is already laying the groundwork for its poll campaign, especially in central Travancore. Efforts are under way to address an array of local issues ranging from flood mitigation to tackling wildlife incursions in the high ranges. Aimed at countering voter fatigue and a possible anti-incumbency wave, the KC(M) is also preparing to field those with strong community roots and family ties in hopes that familiar faces will help regain public trust at the ward level. Meanwhile, the Congress in central Travancore has already signalled its willingness to welcome the KC(M) back into the UDF fold. With an eye on consolidating the Christian vote, the Congress sees the return of the KC(M) as vital to both a central Travancore resurgence and a deeper engagement with the Catholic Church.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Central Travancore politics dives into floodwaters as local body polls loom
With local body elections on the doorsteps, political battlelines are being drawn not just on land, but across the rivers and lakes of central Travancore too. Environmental issues have surged to the centre of the political discourse as parties crank up their campaign machinery. The Kerala Congress(M), for instance, has sprung into action with a symposium on the recurring floods in the Meenachil river. Addressing the event, KC(M) Chairman Jose K. Mani called for a complete overhaul in water management strategies, urging the State to adopt long-term flood-control plans. 'River and stream storage capacities must be maximised. Check-dams should follow a seasonal protocol. Desilting and waste removal from waterbodies are crucial, and excess river sand must be auctioned,' he said. The party plans to compile the recommendations that came up in the symposium and present them to the State government. Interestingly, the KC(M) itself holds the State's Water Resources portfolio, with Roshy Augustine at the helm. The rival faction led by P.J. Joseph, on the other hand, is launching a protest campaign anchored on Vembanad Lake, which serves as the lifeline for the flood-prone Kuttanad and upper Kuttanad regions. Charging that neglect and government inaction have brought the lake to the brink, the first phase of its protest kicks off on Saturday, June 28, on the banks of Vembanad near the Vaikom boat jetty . 'Silt, mud, and garbage have choked Vembanad Lake, drastically cutting its storage capacity. Frequent floods and crop destruction have become the norm. The State and Centre have ignored the Swaminathan commission's recommendations. Even the much-hyped Kuttanad Package remains a paper promise,' the party said, in a statement. It is demanding immediate, targeted action: restore the lake, revive dying waterbodies such as the Kariyar and Thottappally, safeguard paddy fields, and rollout special flood-relief projects across Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta.
