Kozhikode: The support of the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) is crucial for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to retain power in at least nine grama panchayats and a block panchayat in Kozhikode district.

Chakkittapara, Chengottukara, Koorachundu, Kunnamangalam, Madavoor, Velam, Ramanattukara, Koduvally and Chelannor are the grama panchayts where the LDF has to keep the alliance with the DIC (K) going so as not to tilt the balance in favour of the United Democratic Front (UDF).

An LDF-led coalition in pact with DIC(K) is in the ruling seat at Koduvally block panchayat. In the rest of the 11 block panchayats in the district, the LDF has a majority of its own.

However, an immediate change of guard in these local bodies is unlikely since the DIC(K) also shares the spoil of the panchayat election at some of the local bodies. Its members are presidents of Madavoor and Chelanoor grama panchayats and vice-presidents at Koduvally, Meladi and Chelannur block panchayats. It holds posts of chairmen of numerous standing committees.

DIC(K) president K. Muraleedharan has indicated that the existing adjustments that his party had made with the LDF would remain unchanged for the time being. But leaders of both these political parties at the grassroots are not sure how long the camaraderie between them will last with the CPI(M) deciding to have no truck with the DIC(K) in the coming Assembly polls.

The DIC(K) has also chosen to go it alone following the decision of the CPI(M). DIC(K) district vice-president and State Committee member E.K. Gopalakrishnan said that the party would obviously have no choice but to think on the lines of withdrawing support to the LDF.

"However the equation has to be maintained at least for six months as per the provisions of the Kerala Municipal Act," he said.

It appears that the CPI(M) wants to retain the alliance with DIC(K) at the local bodies. "As of now we have no problems. The existing arrangements will continue. The party will take a decision if the DIC(K) withdraws support. Besides, in some of the local bodies they are also in power with our support," said T.P. Ramakrishnan, MLA and CPI(M) district secretary.

The seat arrangements between the DIC(K) and the LDF during the local body polls in September saw the alliance capturing 69 grama panchayats out of 78, Kozhikode Corporation, Koilandy municipality, 12 block panchayats and 28 district panchayats in the district.

The LDF did not have a truck with the DIC(K) in the elections to the Vadakara Municipality. Here the LDF alone has 29 members in the 44-member council.

In the 55-member council of Kozhikode Corporation, the DIC(K) has eight members and the CPI(M) has 33. The DIC(K) has five members in the 41-member Koilandy Municipal Council.

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