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`Friendly-fight' between CPI(M) and CPI

Staff Reporter

CPI candidate in fray against LDF candidate in Malappuram

MALAPPURAM: The LDF on Friday admitted that there were differences in the front over seat-sharing with the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Malappuram municipality.

The CPI has fielded its candidate against the official LDF-supported candidate in the municipality's Kottappadi ward.

Addressing a news conference here, LDF convener K.P. Krishnankutty, CPI(M) area committee secretary R. Ramachandran, LDF election committee chairman K. Majnu and municipal opposition leader Paloli Kunhhahammed said that it would be "a friendly fight". They claimed that the CPI had vouched the party's support to the Democratic Indira Congress (DIC) candidate, Perumbally Sayed, who is backed by the LDF.

However, the CPI denied this claim. The party officials clarified that K.A. Nazar would be the CPI's official candidate in Kottappadi ward. He will take on the UDF's Ashraf and the DIC's Perumbally Sayed on independent banner in a triangle contest. CPI leaders said that it would not be a friendly fight.

In the last elections, the CPI had lost to Perumbally Sayed, who was then with the UDF, by 90-odd votes in Kottappadi ward. This time, the CPI saw better chance in the ward with Karunakaran faction leaving the UDF. However, the LDF ignored the CPI's demand for that seat and gave it to the DIC. Angered and disappointed, the CPI fielded its own candidate there.

Mr. Krishnankutty said that the CPI leaders could not take part in the press conference because of their inconvenience. But the CPI leaders denied this. They were not informed of the press meet, they said.

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