Rift between Pillai, Ganesh Kumar intensifies

Friday, February 10, 2012: It seems the simmering feud between the Kerala Congress (B) chairman R Balakrishna Pillai and his son KB Ganesh Kumar is intensifying with the party’s decision to give intimation to the UDF about the party’s outlook towards Ganesh.
Speaking to the presspersons after the party meeting here on Friday, Pillai added that an intimation regarding this would be given to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the party allies. Two members of the state committee have been appointed for this, he added.
Meanwhile KPCC chief Ramesh Chennithala has opined that he would intervene in the ongoing dispute between Balakrishna Pillai and Ganesh Kumar.
Pillai had once again lashed out at his son Ganesh for walking out of the party meeting held in Wayanad. It should be considered as a political misconduct on Ganesh Kumar’s part to have committed such a mistake, he added.
Ganesh had attended the party meeting in Wayanad, but soon walked out after some of the partymen raised criticism against the Minister.
Ganesh should have shown some tolerance and temperament while facing such criticism, Pillai said. Meanwhile Ganesh Kumar termed as baseless the allegations raised against him by the party workers.
Ganesh is completely neglecting the party and hence his name was struck from the post of party vice-chairmanship, Pillai said.
Ganesh is not being expelled from the party since it would adversely affect the strong bonding inside the United Democratic Front (UDF), Pillai told.
The simmering feud between Balakrishna Pillai and his son spilled out at the party’s state committee meet with Pillai’s aides alleging that ‘he is of no use to the party.’ Ganesh drew criticism for allegedly taking decisions without the consent of the party.
Meanwhile Ganesh Kumar, the lone MLA of the outfit, had earlier declared his willingness to quit from the UDF Ministry.