RSP, NCP engaged in rearguard action

By C. Gouridasan Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 18. The RSP and NCP are engaged in a rearguard action to retain the little leg-space they have in the Left Democratic Front (LDF), but the seat-sharing exercise in the ruling Front appears to be progressing according to the script prepared by the CPI(M).

The CPI(M) is keen that it should get a fairer share of the seats, particularly in districts such as Kollam. But, as could be expected, the Front leader's decision to wrest as many seats as possible from the allies has landed the allies in a predicament.

Emaciated as they are, the allies know only too well that they are at the mercy of the CPI(M). Still, they cannot be seen as giving in to the `Big Brother' and hence the resistance.

The CPI(M), in fact, has a strong case vis-a- vis its junior allies when it comes to seat-sharing. For instance, the party has just three seats in Kollam despite its strong presence in the district. In most other parts of the State too, the allies have been riding piggyback on the Front leader.

Even the allies admit that their strength on the ground does not permit them to peg their demand too high and that their survival is dependent on CPI(M) support which, of course, comes at a price. Their only option, therefore, is to plead with the CPI(M) not to be too harsh with them.

Although the LDF is far more cohesive than its rival, the unwritten ground rule in the Front is that each constituent should fend for itself and only rarely do the allies join forces to safeguard their common interests. It has not been any different with sharing of seats. The CPI and the Kerala Congress(J) are assured of their share of seats and they have decided to mind their business and let the affected parties fight their battles on their own. The RSP and NCP have been doing precisely that, though with little hope of having things their way.

The RSP leaders know only too well that they are at the CPI(M)'s mercy, but they have already done some plainspeaking during their meetings with the CPI(I) leaders. They have told the CPI(M) leaders that it would be difficult for them to concede the CPI(M) demand for both the Harippad and Kollam seats.

Going by what the RSP State leaders told the party State committee members, the CPI(M) initially asked only for Harippad and that too on the plea that they wanted to defeat Prof. A.V. Thamarakshan of the rival RSP. Later, however, the CPI(M) came up with the demand for Kollam citing the party district leadership's insistence on getting more seats in Kollam district.

The RSP leadership was willing to exchange Harippad for some other seat because they also wanted to ensure Prof. Thamarakshan's defeat. But when the CPI(M) leadership made it clear that it wanted Kollam as well, the RSP leaders could not but object to it.

At the RSP State committee meeting here on Saturday, some members went so far as to suggest that the party should opt out of the LDF if the CPI(M) was not willing to allow the party to contest Kollam.

Kollam has more than ordinary significance for the RSP. The party had in the past walked out of coalitions over denial of the seat. However, the leaders now know well that they cannot do the same in the current circumstances. The RSP is committed to the Left Front concept and cannot break its ties with the CPI(M) all that easily. There is, of course, pressure on the leadership to explore other options, but that cannot happen now, mainly because the rival RSP has already gained entry into the Opposition UDF.

But, unlike in the past, the RSP leaders are aware that they must keep their options open, particularly because reduction in the party's share of votes would affect its status in the eyes of the Election Commission.

The NCP strategy is entirely different. The party had been allotted 11 seats in the last election, but got to contest only eight on its own. Even out of these, it could win only three. It is now faced with the prospect of losing three of these seats. An objective evaluation of the situation would show that the party has little to show on the ground to peg its demand too high.

The NCP has been pleading with the CPI(M) to give sufficient seats so that it could accommodate its leaders. But the CPI(M) is insistent that it should get Thiruvananthapuram East, Chengannur in Alappuzha and Palluruthy or Vypeen in Ernakulam.

The Janata Dal has been banking on the clout that its State president, Mr. M.P. Veerendrakumar, has with the CPI(M) to see it through. However, the party also seems set to lose quite a few of the 13 seats it contested in the last election, particularly in the South.

The seat-sharing talks in the Front would resume only on March 23, the day on which the LDF State committee is also expected to meet. But the writing on the wall is clear. The allies would have to concede quite a few seats if they wish to remain part of the LDF.

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