The dispute in the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the lone Rajya Sabha seat that the alliance can win in the March 21 biennial elections has been resolved amicably with the CPI agreeing to leave the seat to the CPI(M).
Leaders of the two parties arrived at this understanding at a meeting here on Wednesday. The CPI(M) is understood to have agreed to leave the next arising vacancy in the Upper House to the CPI. The CPI(M) was represented at the meeting by party Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan, State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, and LDF convener Vaikom Viswan and the CPI by party State secretary Kanam Rajendran and CPI national secretariat member Pannian Ravindran.
Later in the day, the CPI(M) announced the candidature of former Kollam district panchayat president K. Somaprasad.
The UDF has already resolved to allot the two seats that it is certain to win to the Congress and the Janata Dal (United). Congress Working Committee (CWC) member A.K. Antony and JD(U) State president M.P. Veerendrakumar are the UDF nominees.
With the resolution of the dispute, one irritant in the seat-sharing talks between the two parties has been removed. The CPI(M) and CPI leaders would get down to serious negotiations on seat-sharing once the two parties complete their respective party committee meetings. The CPI(M) State secretariat would hold a meeting here on March 11 and 12. This would be followed by a one-day meeting of the CPI(M) State committee on March 13.
Major issue
One key issue that these bodies would have to decide is whether to field both Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan in the Assembly polls. The party may choose to stay quiet on the issue even if there is a decision on the question at this week’s meetings. The State secretariat and State committee would also take up the draft candidates’ list being prepared by the CPI(M) district committees.
The CPI State executive and State council would also meet here on March 11.
