UDF constituents calls for better unity during meeting with Sonia Gandhi

Thiruvananthapuram: Constituents of United Democratic Front called for better unity in the Front during their discussions with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Kottayam on Wednesday.

The Muslim League called for intervention of the Congress high command to settle faction fight in the Congress. This was a must for victory in the coming Assembly elections. Similar sentiments were expressed by other constituents such as RSP and JSS also.

Kerala Congress (M) complained about criticisms from ‘I’ group in the Congress that hurt minorities.  There was campaign that the minorities were making undue gains. It also called for active intervention of Congress in Parliament for measures to support rubber prices including curtailment of imports.

Kerala Congress chairman K. M. Mani told the media that the bar-bribery case which led to his resignation from the UDF ministry was not discussed during the meeting with Ms. Gandhi. “Everyone knows that the registering of case (against me) was unwarranted.”

Janata Dal (United), which complains that the UDF leadership was not keeping its promises to the party, maintained that it had met Ms. Gandhi only as a courtesy.  The Kerala Congress (Jacob) sought more seats for the party to contest in coming Assembly polls.

Besides Mr. Kunhalikutty and K. M. Mani, E. T. Mohammed Basheer, K.P.A. Majeed and E. Ahamed from Muslim League, P.J. Joseph, Jose K. Mani, Joy Abraham, C.F. Thomas and Francis George from Kerala Congress interacted with Ms. Gandhi.

Leaders from other constituents who met the Congress president were M. P. Veerendra Kumar and Varghese George (Janata Dal-U), Shibu Baby John, N. K. Premachandran and A.A. Azeez (RSP),  Rajan Babu and K.K. Shaju (JSS), and  Anoop Jacob and Johny Nelloor Kerala Congress (Jacob).

Ms. Gandhi also held talks with Congress leaders including Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC President V. M. Sudheeran and Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.

Earlier, Ms. Gandhi inaugurated the annual pilgrimage at Sivagiri Mutt near Varkala where she deplored attempts by people who spread bigotry to capture Sree Narayana Guru's ideology.