RS poll: LDF talks fail to break deadlock

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 13. Despite bilateral and multilateral discussions spread over the whole of today, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) leadership could not resolve the dispute over Rajya Sabha nominations. The LDF State committee is meeting again tomorrow to end the stalemate. However, any definite outcome seems unlikely at this point of time.

The CPI(M) and the CPI stuck to their positions when the LDF State committee took up the issue this morning. Leaders of the two parties reiterated their by-now-well-known positions on sharing the Rajya Sabha seats. When the talks seemed to hit a dead-end, it was decided to let the two dominant partners to sort it out between themselves. However, the bilateral discussions in the afternoon also proved futile. ``It's a complete stalemate now,'' a senior CPI leader told TheHinduafter the LDF State panel meeting. According to him, the meeting tomorrow would be a mere formality. ``It is a namesake meeting to make it appear that the talks have not broken down,'' he said.

By available indications, the CPI(M) has so far shown no inclination to give up its claim on one of the Rajya Sabha seats. Its contention at today's meeting was that it should get five berths in the Rajya Sabha if it were to concede the CPI demand for a second berth. The CPI leaders rejected this argument. They also reminded their CPI(M) counterparts that every time the front shared Rajya Sabha seats, the CPI(M) came up with a fait accompli to deny what is rightfully due to others.

The CPI(M), the LDF sources said, also came up with the suggestion that the CPI share its seat with the RSP. However, the CPI leaders were unwilling to even consider it. They told the CPI(M) leaders that they too were for leaving one seat to the RSP. But that should be from the CPI(M)'s share. This is because the CPI(M) had the responsibility to honour the word it had given to the RSP when taking away the Kollam Lok Sabha seat last year.

The other front constituents took the position that it was for the two dominant partners to sort out their differences. However, almost everybody had agreed that the RSP should get a seat. The LDF convener, Mr. V. S. Achuthanandan, and the other front leaders were tightlipped about the outcome of their deliberations as they emerged from the meeting. Sources in the LDF said tomorrow's full State committee meeting would be preceded by another round of bilateral discussion between the CPI(M) and the CPI.

The CPI(M) leaders have to leave for New Delhi to attend the party politburo meeting being held on June 15. Initially, Mr. Achuthanandan suggested that the LDF committee meet again on June 16. However, the Chief Minister, Mr. E. K. Nayanar, felt that one more attempt to end the impasse should be made tomorrow before he and other politburo members leave for New Delhi.

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Section  : Southern States
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