Kerala: Cong clinches seat deal with IUML, CMP

Congress in Kerala, heading the United Democratic Front, on Wednesday reached an agreement with its major ally Indian Union Muslim League on seat-sharing, but problems continued with Kerala Congress-Mani and the Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy.

Congress also struck a deal with Communist Marxist Party, allotting three seats to the outfit led by M V Raghavan.

CMP state secretary K R Aravindakshan told mediapersons that Raghavan would contest from Azhikode in Kannur district.

However, Kannur DCC president P Ramakrishnan voiced resentment over the unilateral announcement by the CMP on the Azhikode seat.

An agreement eluded even after second round of talks with JSS led by K R Gowri, a former CPI-M veteran who was expelled some years ago, as the party insisted on its demand for five seats.

After the parleys, IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty said an agreement had been reached on the number of seats and the constituencies, but the details would be announced after the seat-sharing talks with other partners were over.

The demand of Kerala Congress-Mani that it should get 22 seats continued to be a major problem for UDF.

One more round of talks is slated to be held with KC-M leaders later on Thursday. Mani said with the added strength after the merger with P J Joseph faction, his party deserved the number of seats it demanded.

The Congress leaders' talks with Kerala Congress-Jacob also remained inconclusive.

In the Left Democratic Front, the lead partner CPI-M began parleys with CPI, which has been pressing for at least 30 seats.

Meanwhile, the CPI-M state committee concluded its two-day session without deliberating on the vital question on fielding Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan for the contest.

Party sources indicated that a decision on key candidates would be finalised next week after eliciting opinion from district units of the party.

There are 140 assembly constituencies in Kerala which will go to polls on April 13 along with Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.