Kerala polls: UDF allots seats, yet to name all picks

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader V D Satheesan announced on Tuesday that the seat-sharing arrangement within the UDF for the upcoming assembly elections was complete, with the Congress contesting in 95 constituencies. Congress announced 55 of its candidates on Tuesday.

As per the agreement, IUML will contest 27 seats. Kerala Congress (Joseph) has been allotted eight seats and Revolutionary Socialist Party five. Smaller allies, including Kerala Congress (Jacob), Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI), Communist Marxist Party (CMP), Kerala Democratic Party (KDP) and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), will contest one seat each.




Satheesan said the seat-sharing discussions were smooth and concluded on a positive note, with all constituents reaching a consensus. As part of the agreement, Kerala Congress (Joseph) has ceded Idukki and Ettumanoor seats to Congress. The party, which contested 10 seats in the previous assembly elections, has also entered into seat exchanges, with the Congress contesting in Thrikaripur and KC (Joseph) fielding its candidate in Kanhangad.

RSP has retained the same number of seats it contested in the last elections. The party had initially sought to field a fifth candidate in Payyannur but decided later to support CPM rebel V Kunhikrishnan. RSP's other candidates are Shibu Baby John (Chavara), Ullas Kovur (Kunnathur), Vishnu Mohan (Eravipuram) and Santosh Badhran (Attingal).

Among other allies, K K Rema will contest from Vadakara for RMPI while Mani C Kappan of KDP will again be in the fray from Pala. CMP leader C P John will contest from Thiruvananthapuram Central. P V Anvar of TMC will seek mandate from Beypore. Anoop Jacob will defend Piravom for Kerala Congress (Jacob).

The front has decided to back G Sudhakaran in Ambalappuzha but is yet to take a final call on extending support to P K Sasi in Ottappalam.