The United Democratic Front (UDF) is likely to allot the Punalur Assembly seat to the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) this time.
Sources in the Congress and RSP here told The Hindu on Tuesday that talks in this connection are progressing well. The RSP is also thinking on the lines of accepting Punalur since the demand for either Ranni or Alappuzha is not likely to meet with success. A senior RSP leader said: “Ranni to the RSP is out of question because that segment is very sentimental to Congress leader P.J. Kurien and the UDF is seriously considering allocating Alappuzha to the Janata Dal (United).”
For the Congress, the Punalur segment has always remained a problem constituency when it comes to elections because of “uncompromising group wrangles.”
Since 1957, the Congress has won from Punalur only once, in 1965 when C.M. Stephen was elected from there. But in all the elections (except in 2006 when the seat was allocated to the Communist Marxist Party (CMP), a UDF constituent at that time) the Congress had contested from Punalur.
Five seats
Out of the five seats allocated to the RSP, three are in Kollam district — Chavara, Eravipuram and Kunnathur. Punalur is almost confirmed as the fourth seat. The fifth seat allocated is Attingal. But the RSP is demanding Chirayinkeezhu.
