more-in The feud between Congress ‘I’ and ‘A’ factions over vice-president’s post threatens to derail the United Democratic Front (UDF) regime in Kumbalam grama panchayat even as the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) is seemingly waiting to take advantage of the situation. In fact, so acute is the standoff that 51 ‘A’ group and 63 ‘I’ group members holding offices in the party and feeder organisations have submitted their resignations, which are now before the District Congress Committee (DCC) president. In the 18-member house, the UDF has the support of 10 members, including an Independent, whereas the LDF has in its fold seven members. Off the eight Congress members, four owe their allegiance to ‘I’ group and three to ‘A’ group though the latter accuses the rival of unethically wooing one member from their rank. The lone Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member, C.P. Ratheesh, remains a fence sitter after having effectively cut off links with the party over alleged interference of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The claim of Congress ‘A’ over vice-president post being held by Sreejith Parakkadan of ‘I’ faction led to the turbulence over the past few months. While ‘A’ group claims that there was an understanding to give the post to V.A. Ponnappan after two years as agreed in the minutes of the parliamentary party meeting held shortly after elections, ‘I’ group denies the existence of any such thing. Meanwhile, Mr. Ponnappan has threatened to resign as member if he wasn’t installed as vice-president as ‘promised.’ “I’ group was delaying tactics so that their leader could remain in the post, which he should have vacated on November 18,” he alleged The functioning of the panchayat came to a standstill on Friday after the LDF laid siege to the office in protest against the alleged stalemate in governance. While LDF leader and panchayat member P.S. Haridas has ruled out a no-confidence motion against the ruling side immediately, that position may change if the feud in the ruling party continues. If the aggrieved ‘A’ group members adopt a drastic position and LDF manages to gain the support of the Independent, who for the time being stands firm with the UDF, and that of Mr. Ratheesh, who is being wooed by the CPI, then the pendulum may decisively swing against the ruling coalition if a no-confidence motion is moved at some point.

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