Kerala LDF ally ends speculations, says not going anywhere

Thiruvananthapuram, June 13 (IANS) Putting an end to media speculations that the newest ally of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) -- Kerala Congress (Pillai) is returning to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), it said on Saturday that they are not going anywhere.The Kerala Congress (Pillai) consists of veteran state politician R. Balakrishna Pillai who presently holds a 'cabinet' rank post and his legislator son K.B. Ganesh Kumar. Both were present at the media meeting on Saturday, where they vehemently refuted the media speculation."We do not know how this baseless news has surfaced. Why should we leave, when we are treated with utmost respect in the LDF, where we became a full fledged ally more than four years back. All I know was one of the founder members of the Congress-led UDF and we left it more than five years back, unable to stand the insinuation, that we suffered in all respects, when being an ally of theirs. We are not going anywhere at all and this is baseless," said Pillai and added that they are lock, stock and barrel with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.The party of the father and son was all along an ally of the UDF and after unpleasant tenure at the fag end of the then Oommen Chandy government (2011-16), decided to severe ties with the UDF.And during the 2016 assembly polls, Pillai and his party first became a friendly ally and later became a full fledged ally of the LDF.Ganesh Kumar is a two time minister, when they were with the UDF and now the lone legislator of the party said, this baseless news is nothing but well planned conspiracy to belittle their party."Canards are being spread that I want to be a minister, this is totally false. I was a minister two times and those who know me well, know I am not very keen for that post. We now have respect in the LDF and this news is absurd and false," said Ganesh Kumar, a film actor-turned-politician and a four time legislator.
--IANS sg/skp/