KC(M) mouthpiece slams P J Joseph, lauds Jose K Mani

KOTTAYAM: Giving strong hint that the faction feud in the Kerala Congress (M) is all set to escalate, ‘Prathichaya’, the party mouthpiece, has unleashed severe criticism on party working chairman P J Joseph in its editorial without directly naming him.
The editorial titled ‘Ideal candidate selection’ also lauded Jose K Mani. The editorial took a dig at Joseph saying that there is no relevance for the consensus candidate of those who fake a smile.“The destiny of such people is to remain as a scarecrow blocking roads like fools. The reply given by the candidate Jose Tom who said that “My symbol is K M Mani” was one which hit the target. Many must have bewildered when Jose K Mani had said that the candidate should not be from his family. By this announcement, those foxes who were waiting eagerly for the drops of blood had made fools of themselves. Kerala Congress and the UDF were successful in completing the selection of the candidate without causing harm to anyone,” said the editorial.
The editorial also praised Jose K Mani, saying that his political efficiency silenced those critics who were insulting him over ‘family rule’. The editorial also said that the popularity of Jose K Mani rose following the decision on the candidate. The democratic style which he followed in the selection of the candidate is appreciable.
Reacting to the editorial, Joseph slammed Jose K Mani saying that he was not showing maturity and forethought. He also said that it was very clear that who was speaking through the party organ. “Those behind this should think whether such moves will be beneficial for the UDF for a win in Pala. Everyone knows that the editorial was written with the knowledge of Jose K Mani,” Jospeh said, adding that he didn’t look up Prathichaya as the party mouthpiece.
He also said that he would not get provoked even if he gets booed. “The state chief electoral officer Teeka Ram Meena had said that the right to allot the two leaves symbol after the demise of K M Mani lies with the working chairman. I agreed to give the symbol if the letter was addressed to me as ‘In-charge of Chairman’. However, I received the letter only at 2.29pm on the last day of filing nominations. It was very clear for Jose K Mani also that I could not submit my letter in Pala by 3pm,” Joseph said.
Meanwhile, Jose K Mani said that the stand of Prathichaya was not the stand of the party. He told reporters that the editorial was not aimed at anyone.
“If there are issues, an explanation will be sought from the person who had wrote the editorial. Jose Tom was elected as the candidate in a democratic way. The editorial only lauded that,” Mani said.