LS elections: UDF set to begin seat-sharing talks

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The seat sharing talks in the UDF for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections will begin on Jan 25. The first round of talks is with the Kerala Congress faction led by P J Jospeh, which has staked claim for the Kottayam seat. Kottayam turns out to be the only bottleneck for the UDF in the seat talks.

Kottayam seat was represented by Kerala Congress (Mani) when they were with the UDF and in the last election. However, when the KC(M) switched to the LDF, Joseph staked claim for the seat.

But the district Congress leadership is of the view that Congress should contest from Kottayam. The DCC has also claimed that Congress has the best chances of winning.

However, the state leadership of the Congress is of the view that since P J Joseph is the only Kerala Congress leader with the UDF now, his claim for the seat is genuine.

In the talks to be held with P J Joseph on Thursday, the Congress leadership is likely to suggest the name of leaders from KC(J) who should contest from Kottayam. “We can accept only winnable leaders from the party. We have a few names to suggest which we will discuss with them. However, the sentiments of the district party leadership will also have to be taken into consideration,” said a senior leader of the Congress.

Though IUML is also likely to demand a third seat, the Congress leadership believe that they will not adopt an adamant stand. The IUML wants to contest in Wayanad too, if Rahul Gandhi is not contesting from there. However, the KPCC leadership will make it clear that it will be up to the AICC to decide from where Rahul should contest. Hence the demand for a third seat is not likely to become a hurdle in the talks with IUML leadership, which will be held on Jan 29.

RSP is all set to retain Kollam seat and the other UDF constituents have not raised demand for any seat till now.


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