Congress unlikely to give in to demand for extra seats by UDF allies

Kochi: The seat-sharing dialogues of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) will be held at the Ernakulam Guest House on Tuesday amid Kerala Congress (Mani)’s demand for two tickets. Congress has said it won’t give up its seats or grant more seats to allies.

Congress leaders will meet the representatives of each ally separately. The national party will be represented by opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and UDF convener Benny Behanan. KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran will not participate because of the ongoing pan-Kerala rally dubbed Janamahayatra.

Behanan said allies will not be given more seats. The party believes the two-seat demand made by the Kerala Congress (M) is a result of its internal feud. If the regional party is allowed two constituencies to contest, the Indian Union Muslim League will also insist on three seats, one more than its usual quota.

The Congress will ask Kerala Congress (M) not to create rift in the coalition with their demand. A Rajya Sabha seat meant for the Congress was given to them earlier. The controversy over it has not died down yet within the Congress, its leaders will argue.

Though all UDF allies have made demands for seats, the Muslim League, Kerala Congress (M) and RSP are the only ones who will get Lok Sabha seats to contest this time. The Congress will take back Palakkad seat which was allotted to MP Veerendrakumar in the last polls.

Veerendrakumar has since left the UDF.

Joseph stuns Congress

Kerala Congress (M) leader PJ Joseph’s interest in contesting from a Lok Sabha seat has stunned the Congress. Neither Congress nor any UDF ally can say no to the senior leader. A compromise formula to make candidate acceptable for both parties enter the fray could be discussed.

Kerala Congress (Jacob) chairman and UDF secretary Johnny Nellore visited Joseph at his house at Purappuzha on Monday. Nellore said he held talks with Joseph to find a solution for the logjam on the request of Congress leaders.

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