Scene set for Mani-Joseph merger

TPURAM: Setting a nurtured platform for crystallization in Kerala Politics, the Kerala Congress under the blessings of P J Joseph has moved its �pawns of mergence with that led by K M Mani group.

It is learnt from reliable sources that the mergence is mediated by some bishops. Although there had been move to merge Kerala Congress (Joseph) into Kerala Congress (Mani) even before Lok Sabha elections, it became a standstill. But the leaders of the two parties have recently met unofficially to discuss on the merger.

The formula put forward is that K M Mani would become the chairman of the party to be formed after the merger; P J Joseph would be its working chairman.

At first the faction led by P C Thomas inside the Joseph group was dissenting against the merger, but things have now become favourable.

It has been a long cherished wish of some Christian religious heads that all the Kerala Congress parties should merge together.

The Kerala Congress parties led by Mani, Balakrishna Pillai, T M Jacob and P C George had earlier tried to get combined, and even a State committee meeting was held at Kottayam to realize this. But the meeting was unsuccessful after a quarrel arose over the post of convenor. It was after this meeting that the religious heads started procedures to merge other groups with Kerala Congress (Mani).

If the Mani-Joseph merger takes place, then the resulting party will become the second powerful one in the UDF side. Then P J Joseph, who at present is the Minister for Public Works, will have to resign from the Left Democratic Front.

P Rajeev appointed chairman of RS assurance committee

NEW DELHI: P Rajeev, MP, has been appointed as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha assurance committee. Rajya Sabha president Hameed Ansari appointed him to the post. Rajeev has been made a member in the General Purpose Committee of Rajya Sabha also.