This is KC (M)’s & Jose K Mani’s make-or-break moment

Kottayam: Kerala Congress (M) and its leader Jose K Mani are facing their biggest challenge in the party's history in the upcoming assembly polls. It is, simply put, make or break. The most ideal outcome for them would be Jose K Mani winning in Pala and LDF retaining power. The worst-case scenario—one the party dreads—is Mani losing in Pala alongside an LDF defeat. In such a situation, even a return to UDF fold would be fraught, as rival Kerala Congress (Joseph) would certainly resist the move.The party had, in fact, come close to walking back into UDF camp following local body election results, but Roshy Augustine intervened at the last moment. His reasoning had merit, it would have been untenable for a sitting LDF cabinet minister to switch sides on the eve of assembly elections. Roshy's intervention thwarted what appeared to be a church-orchestrated realignment, keeping KC(M) within the LDF. This despite the fact that a majority of KC(M) leaders believed the move to UDF would have been electorally beneficial and the timing could not have been better. The more immediate challenge, however, is the mood within the party's rank and file. Most workers remain mentally aligned with UDF, and many had prepared themselves for a formal switch. How they respond when they actually cast their votes remains the critical unknown. Adding to the uncertainty, CPM and LDF workers have also grown wary following KC(M)'s flirtation with UDF, their hesitation at the booth could prove costly. Yet all is not lost for Jose K Mani in Pala. He is currently seen as being on equal footing with BJP's Shone George and UDF's Mani C Kappen, the current MLA. While Shone George leads in campaign visibility, Mani's experience and an organized election machinery could tilt things in his favour. That said, any significant anti-incumbency wave would most likely benefit Kappen.KC(M) state treasurer Baby Uzhuthuval expressed confidence in Mani's prospects. "We are proud of this govt. The welfare pensions and other initiatives have benefitted many people here. Jose K Mani may never have been an MLA from Pala, but his contributions to the region as an MP have been significant," said Uzhuthuval, adding that the church too would take a favourable stance.A senior KC(M) leader, speaking anonymously, warned that a poor showing would trigger serious internal strife. "Disputes over accountability will surface quickly. A decent victory is not optional. it is essential," he said. Post-poll tensions may equally surface in the KC(Joseph) camp. If UDF wins and both Monce Joseph and Apu John Joseph secure seats, a ministerial tug-of-war seems inevitable, with party chairman P J Joseph pushing for his son and the influential Monce Joseph unlikely to step aside easily.