The United Democratic Front (UDF) leadership on Thursday launched seat-sharing dialogues with coalition partners for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with Socialist Janata (Democratic), which has claimed a seat, figuring in the first round of discussions.
The meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s chamber in the State Assembly. Senior SJ(D) leaders M P. Veerendra Kumar, M.V. Shreyams Kumar, Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan, Varghese George and Sheikh P. Harris represented the SJ(D), while discussions were led by Mr. Chandy and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.
According to informed sources, the SJ(D) has asked for one seat, either Wayanad or Vadakara. The Congress leaders said they would respond to the demand after holding discussions with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Kerala Congress (M), the other major constituents who have stakes in the Lok Sabha elections.
The SJ(D) leaders said at the meeting that the UDF leaders had offered a seat during the previous Lok Sabha elections. However, the party leadership declined the offer given the political circumstances prevailing at that time. The Congress leadership is inclined to concede a seat to the fourth largest party in the UDF and an important ally from the Malabar region.
The issue would be formally discussed on February 3 when the Congress leaders will hold meetings with the IUML and the Kerala Congress (M) representatives. Later, the leaders of all the four parties will hold a joint session, sources said.
The Chief Minister has already left for New Delhi, while the Home Minister is expected to leave on Friday afternoon for discussions with the party high command. Congress leaders here expect the party high command to make an announcement nominating a new KPCC president to take over from Mr. Chennithala.
