UDF to bridle leaders, counter LDF strategy

THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: The UDF will launch a counter offensive if the LDF continues with its strategy of raking up non-issues with a view to choke the State Government from performing, said KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala here on Thursday. Chennithala told reporters that the KPCC-Government coordination committee meeting held here on Wednesday made an assessment that no government in the state had launched so much initiatives for the well-being of the people in such a short time. “But instead of being a constructive Opposition, the LDF is keen on  creatingtrouble to tarnish the popularity of  the government,’’ he said. “Adopting such a strategy is a ploy to cover-up the factional feud in the CPM which is smouldering ahead of the impending organisational polls,’’ he said. “The strategy to belittle and choke the government will be dealt with in equal vein,’’ Chennithala said. Maintaining that there was no proposal to have a code of conduct for ministers and senior UDF leaders, the KPCC chief, however, said that the meet had taken a serious note of the statements of many leaders and  decided to ask all concerned to show restraint and avoid controversies. “No UDF leader should fall into controversies. All those in the political domain and public sphere should limit their verbal outbursts,’’ he said and reiterated that the recent controversial statements of Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar and Government Chief Whip P C George could not be accepted in any way.“But Ganesh Kumar has expressed his regrets. All are aware that Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan had never regretted nor tendered an apology for the foul language he used while he was the Chief Minister,’’ the KPCC chief said. “The LDF and CPM need not act like angels,’’ he said. Asked whether the directive will be binding on Chief Whip P C George also, he said that it would be discussed at the next UDF meet. When pointed out that George was not ready to tender apology, he said that it was for George himself to explain it. Ramesh said that there need not be any doubt that the Piravom Assembly seat belonged to the Kerala Congress (Jacob) faction and it was for the party to decide the contestant. “The precedent in the UDF is to leave the choice of the candidate to  the respective coalition partners. The Congress do not interfere in the internal affairs of coalition partners,’’ he said. However, Chennithala evaded a direct answer on whether Anoop Jacob, who has been decided as t e choice, would be made a minister before the by-poll.  “The party has not demanded it so far. Hence, there is no need for a discussion on it,’’ he said.