CPI sees smooth progress in seat-sharing exercise

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 26. After a day-long review of the preparations for the panchayat elections, the CPI State council has concluded that there is smooth progress in the seat sharing exercise and a final picture would be available by August 29.

A senior party spokesman said that the LDF constituents had already reached a clear understanding on sharing of seats even in panchayats where the CPI had broken ranks with the CPI(M) in the last panchayat elections. The seat sharing exercise had been more or less completed in Kasaragod and Kannur. In the former, the CPI and the CPI(M) had contested separately in a few panchayats.

The CPI spokesman said that contrary to popular impression, the CPI(M) leadership seemed accommodative in most parts of the State. This did not mean that there was no hard-bargaining. There was no question of the CPI giving up any of the seats it had won in the last election. On its part, the CPI(M) also was quite determined in securing seats in places where it was confident of winning on its own.

According to the CPI leader, the LDF has so far not clinched deal with the Muslim League anywhere in the State. However, in Kasaragod district, the Indian National League (INL) is a major player in the poll discussions and could well be part of the LDF when the battle lines are drawn. In certain places, the discussions are being timed in such as a way as to accommodate the Muslim League as and when it decides to throw its lot with the LDF, he said.

The State council meeting, chaired by the veteran leader, Mr. K. P. Prabhakaran, also reviewed preparations for the elections in various districts. The LDF State committee is meeting here on August 29. The meeting would take stock of the overall poll scene. Since disputes relating to seat-sharing are proposed to be thrashed out at the district-level, the State committee is likely to focus on the political scenario and ways to take advantage of the emerging situation.

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Section  : Southern States
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