Cong will hold talks to iron out UDF differences: Chennithala

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday said that his party's leadership will hold discussions with all constituents of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) led by it to sort out differences among UDF leaders.

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 25 Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday said that his party's leadership will hold discussions with all constituents of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) led by it to sort out differences among UDF leaders.

He said that while the UDF was democratic, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the ruling CPI-M had no democracy.

"In the LDF, there is only one voice (Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan) and no one else speaks; but in the UDF, there is no such thing and all leaders express their opinion," the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly told the media here soon after a UDF meeting.

"Does the CPI-M now have a State Secretary (present secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is convalescing). Everything is dictated," claimed another former minister and RSP leader Shibhu Baby John.

Chennithala's statement comes in the wake of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second biggest party in the UDF, expressing unhappiness on Monday over squabbles in the Congress and Kerala Congress (Mani).

After IUML's Lok Sabha member PK Kunhalikutty called on state Congress chief Mullapally Ramachandran and faction-ridden Kerala Congress (Mani) leaders and expressed concern over frequent airing of differences by them, Chennithala said that refreshing discussions were held during the meeting.

"Everything was discussed and soon you will all find a rejuvenated UDF. It has been decided that the Congress leadership will now start one-on-one discussions with all constituents of the UDF and thrash out their differences," said Chennithala.

"UDF supporters will hold a day-long protest on April 2 by gheraoing the state Secretariat to take on the corrupt Vijayan government. The Chief Minister continues to maintain a stoic silence on the CAG report. His silence means he is party to corrupt deals," Chennithala said.

( With inputs from IANS )