Stalemate in seat-sharing talks

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 29. The deadlock in the seat-sharing talks for elections to the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Council continued till Tuesday evening, posing a major concern for the district leadership of both the ruling LDF and the Congress(I)- led UDF coalitions.

Even as both the fronts claim that the tortuous seat- allocation exercise had entered the last phase, the adamant stand adopted by some of the partners has resulted in a stalemate. The LDF is hoping to wrap up the talks within the next two days and file nominations by August 31. The UDF candidates are likely to file their papers only by September 1, the last date. The UDF election committee is meeting again tonight.

The delimitation and reservation of wards for special categories and the addition of 31 wards to the council have necessitated a readjustment of seats, leading to disputes between the front partners. The infighting in the Congress(I) appears to have emboldened the UDF partners to demand a greater share of the seats. In the LDF however, the minor partners are bargaining hard to avoid being sidelined by the CPI(M) which is targetting a majority on its own.

The CPI(M) has finalised the list of candidates to be fielded from the sure seats. The former District Panchayat President, Mr. Sathyan, is likely to be fielded from Kesavadasapuram. The other candidates include the Ulloor panchayat president, Mr. V.S.Padmakumar, from Edavakode, the Ulloor panchayat vice- president, Mr. Anilkumar, from Aakulam, the sitting councillor, Prof. Chandra, from Kowdiar, the sitting district panchayat member, Ms. Ambili, from Mannanthala, the former Mayor, Mr. Karunakaran Nair, from Nedumcaud, the former councillor, Mr. Rajasekharan Nair, from Mudavanmugal, the sitting councillor, Mr. Sreekumar, from Sasthamangalam, and the Peroorkada Cooperative Bank president, Mr. Kalluvila Sukumaran, from Peroorkada.

The sitting Vattiyoorkavu councillor and the CPI(M) council party leader, Mr. K.C.Vikraman, will contest from Pangode while the Arannoor councillor, Ms. Shaila, will be fielded from Karamana. The Nedumcaud councillor, Ms. Pushpalatha, has been shifted to Attukal. The CPI(M) has decided to field a woman, Ms. Krishnakumary, from the Mannamoola general ward. The CPI(M) sources said all the party's sitting women councillors barring four or five will be fielded.

The sitting Valiasala councillor, Ms. Ambika Krishnan of the CPI, will contest from Chalai while Mr. Harshan of the CPI(M) will be the LDF candidate in Valiasala. The NDP councillor from Kesavadasapuram, Mr. Vinodkumar, will be fielded as an LDF Independent from Muttada. The RSP candidate, Mr. Syam, (Kuravankonam) and the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Vazhuthacaud Narendran of the CPI (Vazhuthacaud), will be seeking re-election. The CPI(M) is likely to field Mr. Saju from Chackai though the RSP is staking their claim to the seat.

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