After Nilambur win, talks heat up over Kerala Congress (M)‘s return to UDF
Amidst reports that the United Democratic Front (UDF) working on a strategy to expand its base ahead of next year's Assembly elections, discussions over a potential return of Kerala Congress (M) to the Congress-led coalition are once again gaining momentum in Central Travancore.
Buoyed by the Nilambur bypoll victory, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan has officially confirmed the UDF's expansion plans. The Congress leaders in Central Travancore, on their part, have also expressed interest in bringing back the regional party, which is currently part of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF).
'Some leaders have shown willingness to negotiate, but only in a personal capacity. Any formal discussions with Kerala Congress (M), however, will depend on the outcome of the upcoming local body elections,' said a senior party leader.
According to him, the Congress is keen to rebuild a stronger version of the Kerala Congress, its long-time ally, which currently finds itself fragmented across political alliances. 'Only a united Kerala Congress can help absorb the eventual exit of some of its senior leaders,' he added, pointing to reports that veteran leader P.J. Joseph may not contest future elections.
Combined with the elevation of Sunny Joseph as the KPCC president, the Congress regards a stronger Kerala Congress presence within the UDF as a means to bolster its ties with the Catholic Church, which remains an influential force in Central Travancore.
'But for any of this to materialise, Kerala Congress (M) must first respond positively to the feelers we've sent from time to time,' the leader added.
When contacted, a senior Kerala Congress (M) leader admitted to a sense of confusion within party ranks about a potential shift. He, however, insisted that no formal discussions have taken place.
'People often ask us about such a move whenever speculation begins to circulate. We see this as a strategy by the UDF to create uncertainty among our workers. Nothing concrete has happened, especially since our party chairman currently occupies the Rajya Sabha seat vacated by the CPI(M),' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
31 minutes ago
- The Print
Not sign of my ‘leaping to join' PM's party: Tharoor on Op Sindoor outreach article
His remarks were seen as likely to irk his Congress party and widen cracks in his ties with its leadership. Tharoor, in an article published in The Hindu on Monday, said Modi's energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remained a 'prime asset' for India on the global stage but deserved greater backing. Moscow, Jun 24 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said his article on Operation Sindoor's global outreach was not a sign of his 'leaping to join' Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party but a statement of national unity, interest and standing up for India. Asked about the article at an event here, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said: 'It is not a sign of my leaping to join the prime minister's party (the BJP) as some people unfortunately have been implying. It is a statement of national unity, of national interest and of standing up for India, which to my mind is fundamentally why I came back to India after 25 years of service at the UN.' 'I did so to serve India, and I am very proud to have the opportunity to do so,' Tharoor added. Tharoor said the article was written about 'Operation Sindoor' in which he described the success of the diplomatic outreach mission. 'People always tend to see all this in the context of today's news. It is an article in which I describe the success of this outreach mission, which, amongst other things, showcased the unity of all parties behind the matter of vital national interest,' Tharoor said. 'So, I said the prime minister himself has demonstrated dynamism and energy in engaging with other countries. He has travelled to more countries than any prime minister, and done so in order to take the message of India around the world,' the Congress leader said. 'And to my mind, what we all did was give his efforts that back up by bringing to bear the strength of all of India's different political parties, backgrounds, groups, religions, and convey to the world that message that a united India stands for. Today it is a message against terrorism, tomorrow it could be a message on something else, but that backing up, I believe, is very important,' he said. Tharoor recalled the expression used by Americans that political differences should stop at the water's edge to buttress his argument. 'I, too, have believed for the longest time that political differences in our democracy should stop at the borders. For us, it seems to me there is really no such thing as a BJP foreign policy or a Congress foreign policy, there is only Indian foreign policy and Indian national interest.' 'I am not saying something new, I said this very many years ago, and I said this publicly, on the record, the very first time when I became the chairman of the External Affairs committee back in 2014,' Tharoor said. In the article, Tharoor said the diplomatic outreach following 'Operation Sindoor' was a moment of national resolve and effective communication. The Prime Minister's Office shared Tharoor's article on X. Tharoor in his article said: 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi's energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remains a prime asset for India on the global stage but deserves greater backing.' 'The diplomatic outreach following 'Operation Sindoor' was a moment of national resolve and effective communication. It affirmed that India, when united, can project its voice with clarity and conviction on international platforms,' said the Congress leader, who led a multi-party delegation to the US and four other countries to convey India's stand following the Pahalgam terror attack and the military operation. Tharoor's praise for the prime minister comes at a time when the Congress has been consistently attacking the Modi government over its foreign policy, alleging that Indian diplomacy is being 'shattered' and the country stands 'isolated' globally. Following the Pahalgam attack, Tharoor has been making comments on the India-Pakistan conflict and the diplomatic outreach that are at variance with the stand of the Congress. The Congress has been questioning the government over US President Donald Trump's claims of mediating a ceasefire between the two countries. He has often drawn criticism from his party and jibes aimed at him by Congress leaders for his stand. The delegation, led by Tharoor, visited the US on the last leg of a multi-nation tour to brief key interlocutors about Operation Sindoor, launched by India following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The delegation was one of the seven multi-party delegations India had tasked to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community to emphasise Pakistan's links to terrorism. Last week, while speaking in Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor said he has differences of opinion with some in the party leadership, but is not going to speak about them in light of the byelection in Kerala's Nilambur constituency. He said the Congress, its values and its workers are very dear to him. PTI ASK PY PY PY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
After admitting ‘2nd wife', ex-BJP MLA now claims she's film co-star
Haridwar: Former BJP MLA from Jwalapur constituency, Haridwar, Suresh Rathore, on Wednesday refuted claims that he married Saharanpur-based actress Urmila Sanawar, a week after publicly introducing her as his second wife. He said the widely-shared images of what appeared to be his wedding were actually scenes from a film he is producing. The assertion followed a disciplinary notice from BJP's state unit, asking him to explain how this public display squared with the state's Uniform Civil Code , which criminalises polygamy (Rathore hasn't divorced his first wife). At a press event in Saharanpur just days earlier, the Rathore had declared, "Urmila's love has won," and described her as part of his family. The moment was captured on video and shared widely on social media, prompting Congress to accuse BJP of shielding its own leaders from UCC provisions while using them against others. The actress, too, updated her social media profile to "Urmila Suresh Rathore" and posted visuals of Rathore acknowledging their relation. Rathore now insists the entire episode was cinematic. "There is no certificate, no vermilion, no garland. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo The visuals of the marriage are from 'Bhabhi Ji Vidhayak Hain', a film I am producing," he told TOI. Sanawar, however, maintained that they were married in Nepal. The dispute traces back about a year, when Rathore, presenting himself as a self-proclaimed religious leader of Dalits, introduced Urmila as his disciple. Shortly after, she claimed they had wed. Rathore filed a complaint of blackmail; she responded with allegations of assault. Rathore now says those issues have been "settled". Uttarakhand Congress spokesperson Garima Mehra Dasauni criticised BJP's inaction. "He accepted the woman, now says it was a film. Is this a joke?"
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
DK Shivakumar may soon be replaced as state Congress chief after minister's mining missive upsets party brass
After nearly five years at the helm of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar may soon be replaced, with the Congress high command initiating moves to reshuffle the state unit. Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Eshwar Khandre are being considered frontrunners for the post, top government sources indicated. The matter was discussed during two high-level meetings held in Delhi, one with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday evening and another with AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday. The meetings also took up a recent letter by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil that has reportedly drawn the high command's ire. A senior source who accompanied Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on his Delhi visit said the discussions were primarily focused on party affairs in Karnataka. 'The high command has reacted positively about the demands and is currently looking at options to replace KPCC president,' the source said, adding that either Jarkiholi or Khandre could take over if they agree to relinquish their Cabinet positions. The Congress leadership had earlier delayed replacing Shivakumar, despite speculation that he would be removed after the party came to power in May 2023. He managed to retain not only the KPCC president's post but also two key portfolios, Bengaluru Development and Water Resources, in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet. The delegation to Delhi, led by the Chief Minister, included ministers KJ George, Dr HC Mahadevappa, and Jarkiholi, all considered part of Siddaramaiah's core team in the state Congress. The leadership is also said to be upset over Patil's letter, which criticised the government's handling of illegal mining cases. 'Between 2007 and 2011, massive treachery took place in Karnataka in the form of illegal mining. Politicians and bureaucrats systematically looted the state's wealth. The government lost Rs 1.5 lakh crore. But in spite of such large-scale loot, the government has not demonstrated honesty and commitment in ensuring commensurate punishment for the loot and recovery of the state's wealth,' Patil wrote. According to the source, 'Kharge, Venugopal and CM are on the same page about the issue. They are very unhappy about Patil taking up the issue publicly as being a minister, he could take it up in the Cabinet meeting. Moreover, some assertions made in the letter are factually incorrect.' There are indications that Patil may face disciplinary action, with the high command viewing the letter as having dented the party's image in the state.
