Putting up a brave face after the split in Kerala Congress (M), a constituent of the ruling Congress-led UDF, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday said developments among the Front constituents would not affect their unity.

"Kerala Congress (M) is an important part of the UDF. The front (partners) have no issue with KC(M). UDF will face the elections unitedly," he told reporters.

In an embarrassment to the UDF ahead of the coming Assembly polls, Kerala Congress (M) on Thursday split with a group of rebels led by former MP Francis George walking out of the party, accusing its chief K M Mani of functioning unilaterally.

Former MLA Antony Raju, a member of the party's high-power committee had told reporters that he, Francis George and K C Joseph, also a former legislator, had decided to leave the party as Mani was functioning in a "unilateral manner".

He had alleged that "dynastic rule" was prevailing in the KC-M with Mani "trying" to make his son Jose K Mani, MP, as the leader of the party.

Another leader P C Joseph, a known opponent of Mani, also left the party.

All of them were part of Kerala Congress (Joseph) led by Water Resource Minister P J Joseph before it merged with KC (M) ahead of the Assembly elections in 2011.

Chandy criticised the CPI(M)-led opposition LDF of shying away from discussions in the Assembly, saying it lacked self-confidence to face UDF's development agenda.

"LDF ran away from discussions in the Assembly. They could only level charges but could not face our development agenda", Chandy said.

Earlier, Chandy unveiled a Rs 6 crore master plan of the Government Teachers Training Institute at Nadakkavu area in Kozhikode.