Call a truce: Congress to KC(M) factions

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress leadership has urged warring Kerala Congress (Mani) factions to break a truce at least temporarily, taking in view of Pala assembly bypoll on September 23.
A meeting between Jose K Mani and P J Joseph is likely to happen soon, hinted Congress leaders after discussions on Monday. Both the leaders have been asked by the Congress leadership not to declare any names of the candidate individually until a consensus is arrived between them.The Congress leaders had two rounds of discussions with Mani and Joseph separately on Monday. Discussions were led by former chief minister Oommen Chandy.
In the discussion Joseph was adamant that since he was the party chairman, only he has the authority to declare the name of the candidate and allot the symbol. But, Mani claimed that he has natural claim for the seat. To this, the Congress leaders said both the leaders should sit and talk before going into the discussion on the candidate selection.
The UDF high-power committee meeting on Monday, however, did not discuss on the candidate selection for Pala. “The seat will be contested by Kerala Congress (Mani) in its party symbol. There are some differences within the party and it will be settled soon. The Congress leaders and UDF leadership are involved in bilateral talks to end the differences,’’ said Ramesh Chennithala, UDF chairman after the meeting.
There is no need for concern over the candidate selection and it will be announced in two-three days. A consensus will be evolved before that. The Congress leadership will intervene in the discussion to resolve the differences between the leaders in the Kerala Congress, Chennithala said.
The Congress leaders have asked both the Kerala Congress leaders to keep away all the differences for the time being and find a consensual candidate for the bypoll. They promised that all the issues between the leaders can be discussed and settled later.