It is easier to stick together in power than to sit together in the opposition. Tensions between the Congress and one of its major allies in Kerala, the Kerala Congress (M), have been building up for close to two years now following the bar bribery allegations against KC(M) leader K.M. Mani. As long as the two parties were in power as part of the United Democratic Front, they could not afford to part ways as that would have effectively meant ceding power to the rival Left Democratic Front. But once the UDF was voted out in the Assembly election earlier this year, it was only a matter of time before the KC(M) decided to break its 35-year-old alliance with the Congress. Mr. Mani, who was forced to resign as Finance Minister well before the term of the UDF came to an end, was prone to blaming factional leaders of the Congress, especially Ramesh Chennithala, who was then Home Minister, for many of his troubles. By sitting as a separate block in the Assembly, the KC(M) has nothing to lose. Indeed, Mr. Mani must be hoping he would earn some goodwill of the LDF. Although the KC(M) talks of issue-based support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance at the Centre, what is to be watched is its attitude to the LDF government in the State. The LDF was a strong critic of Mr. Mani, and the bar bribery allegations were an important component in the election campaign. He must be hoping there would be less heat on him now that his party is not aligned with the Congress.
Politically, the options before the KC(M) are truly limited. The LDF does not need new allies, and, in any case, would be hesitant to be in the company of a party it had specifically targeted just a few months ago over the bar bribery allegations. The Bharatiya Janata Party is not an attractive alliance partner in Kerala for the KC(M). One, the BJP is not a significant player in Kerala; two, the KC(M) counts among its support base large sections of the Christian community. Outside of the two major fronts, the KC(M) will find political existence very difficult. Like other smaller regional parties, it emerged as a viable electoral force in the first-past-the-post system by taking advantage of the rivalry between the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Prior to joining the UDF, the KC(M) was with the LDF by virtue of its demonstrated ability to make the difference between victory and defeat in a few constituencies. Irrespective of its posturing now, the KC(M) will have to look for major allies when the next general election is due. It has made a political point by quitting the UDF; to see this as an irreversible decision will be to miss the point.
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