The Hindu : Front Page : LDF seat-sharing talks inconclusive

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Sunday, Mar 26, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

LDF seat-sharing talks inconclusive

Special Correspondent

Front's manifesto ready; release on Monday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The seat sharing talks among the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) constituents remained deadlocked on Saturday, but appeared headed for conclusion by Sunday evening.

The LDF State committee, which met with Leader of the Opposition V. S. Achuthanandan in the chair, devoted most of its time to the finalisation of the alliance's election manifesto. Practically, there was no discussion on the sharing of seats at the formal LDF meeting and it was left to the CPI(M) to hold one-on-one talks with the allies to decide what share each of the ally must get. From available indications, the allies are doing their best to fob off the CPI(M) bid to take away a portion of the seats that they had contested in the last election.

The CPI(M) has decided to contest 90 seats this time as compared to 76 last time and has been trying to fill the gap with seats to be taken from the allies, particularly the minor allies such as the Congress (S), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Janata Dal (Secular). The front leader was planning to effect deep cuts in the case of the minor allies and also take at least a few seats from its Left allies - the CPI and the RSP. Both the Left parties have been offering stiff resistance to the CPI(M) bid.

The CPI(M) has already told the CPI to part with Chathannur in Kollam district and the RSP to give up the Kollam town seat. Both the parties have refused to budge. While the CPI has made it known that it would be willing to give up Pathanapuram if the CPI(M) would compensate it with Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district, the RSP leadership has told the CPI(M) leaders that there could not be a unilateral surrender of seats. Whether the resistance would prove effective would have to be seen.

The minor allies are a harried lot. Parties like the JD(S), Congress(S) and the NCP would have to together forego nearly a dozen seats.

It is not immediately clear how many seats the CPI(M) is asking from the Kerala Congress (Joseph).

The LDF manifesto would be released on Monday.

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