Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

LDF partners to observe restraint

Special Correspondent

Seat sharing to be finalised by March 20

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Constituents of the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) have decided not to go public with their differences over the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) and acceptance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) loans by LDF-controlled local bodies.

This follows a detailed discussion on these issues at the LDF State committee meeting here on Saturday. Leaders of the CPI(M), CPI and the RSP had made mutually critical observations about their respective stand on both the issues. Briefing the media after the LDF State panel meeting, Front convener Paloli Mohammed Kutty said the meeting had concluded that the exchanges between alliance leaders were unfortunate and should be avoided in future. Asked whether this applied to him as well (as he had also made some unsavoury remarks about the CPI), Mr. Mohammed Kutty replied that since he also belonged to one of the Left parties, it would apply to him too.

On differences over the ADB loan assistance for local bodies, he said the matter had never been discussed in the LDF forum. No discussion on the subject was possible on Saturday as well. "One would know the exact nature of these differences only after a discussion," he said.

Replying to questions on the DIC(K) issue, he said the DIC(K) was free to take whatever political line it deemed fit about continuing in the LDF alliance at the local bodies level. The LDF had decided unanimously to ally with the DIC(K) in the local body elections as part of its strategy of exploiting differences in the rival political camp. The LDF would now wait for the DIC(K) stand on the alliance and respond according to the emerging situation, he said.

Seat sharing

Mr. Mohammed Kutty said the LDF would finalise its seat-sharing for the upcoming Assembly election by March 7 when another meeting of the LDF panel was slated to be held. The seats to be contested by each party would be announced by March 20. The Front partners had already begun bilateral discussions on seat sharing. The LDF convener said a seven-member committee with Kodiyeri Balakrishnan (CPI-M) had been constituted to draft the Front's manifesto.

The Front leadership also heard the Kerala Congress (Secular) factions led by P. C. George, MLA, and Eapen Varghese at Saturday's meeting and resolved to take a final decision in the matter on March 7. Mr. Varghese explained the reasons why he and his supporters were forced to break away from the KC (Secular) and Mr. George the reasons why he was forced to expel Mr. Varghese. The matter would now be taken up again at the March 7 meeting for a decision, he said.

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