Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress leadership is in a dilemma as to how to appease the peeved UDF allies with the AICC already saying that only three seats, two for Muslim League and one for KC (M), will be set apart for the allies in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
The UDF has not met for over a month worsening the crisis. UDF convener P. P. Thankachan told DC that any discussion on candidates was yet to take place. He said the UDF may meet on January 3.
Union Defence Minister and manifesto implementation committee chairman A. K. Antony will be here on December 30 to receive the draft report of the KPCC’s manifesto. The Lok Sabha seat aspirants are likely to meet him to press their claims as he will have a crucial say in the matter.
The Congress leadership had been repeatedly denying that there was any directive from the AICC on the seat-sharing formula. “Unfortunately, a section of the media has been wrongly reporting about the AICC’s directives. When the talks on the candidates are yet to happen, how can I allay the fears of the allies”? Thankachan said.
KC (M) Chairman K. M. Mani and Socialist Janata (Democratic) leader M. P. Veerendra Kumar are likely to stake their claims for the Lok Sabha seats. While KC (M) has demanded one more seat, the SJ (D) has been asking for a seat since it parted ways with the LDF.
“I spoke to Chennithala regarding seat-sharing and he confirmed that the AICC has not yet issued any directives. I have been reiterating about a seat for our party for quite some time,” Veerendra Kumar said.
