Kerala assembly polls: UDF claims SDPI-CPM deal in Vengara, Mankada

Kozhikode: UDF has raised allegations of another ‘deal' involving CPM, after SDPI did not field any candidates in Vengara and Mankada in Malappuram – two constituencies where the latter has significant votes. While SDPI did not field any candidates in Vengara, the candidate who filed nomination in the Mankada seat, C H Ashraf, withdrew his nomination. LDF too withdrew their candidate M P Alavi in Mankada and is backing independent candidate Kunnanthu Mohammed there. Mohammed was recently expelled from IUML. Manjalamkuzhi Ali, the IUML candidate from Mankada, said that SDPI staged a roadshow and began its campaign before withdrawing its candidate at the last minute. He said that LDF is seeking support from entities like SDPI due to the desire to somehow retain power. He said that CPM always does such things by proper planning. Ali said that SDPI is a party which is against IUML, and that he is contesting expecting UDF support and also expects the votes of ‘good communists'. Former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said that there is an alliance between SDPI and CPM in Kerala. Meanwhile, CPM general secretary M A Baby said in Kannur that CPM has not made any arrangements with SDPI. The present working style of SDPI is not suitable for democratic politics and all such parties should correct themselves, he said. Jamaat-e-Islami on the other hand is a group working for a theocratic state and if they do not have such a stand, they should clarify, said Baby. Meanwhile, SDPI state president CPA Latheef told reporters that the party has not decided on whom to support. LDF and UDF are the same for us, Latheef said. He added that the party does not believe that there is a strong anti-incumbency in the state. He also said that SDPI has taken a stand in Manjeshwar to support UDF to prevent a BJP victory.