The Vigilance court verdict rejecting the VACB report giving a clean chit to KM Mani has come as a face-saver and relief for the LDF, which once tried to woo the veteran leader to the Left fold. After Mani returned to the UDF recently, the Left has now got an opportunity to hit back.

Mani was forced to quit the Oommen Chandy cabinet following protests and pressure from the then Opposition LDF. Back then, Mani had sent out signals of dissent over the stance taken by certain UDF leaders in the bar bribery case. He had even made his dissent public many a time.