KOLLAM: Bargaining has started in right earnest by allies in the LDF and the UDF to share the seats in the local body polls in Kollam.
The complexion of the contests will change as the RSP has joined the UDF and the Kerala Congress (B) the LDF now.
In the Kollam Corporation, though the RSP has claimed 20 seats, the Congress has decided to give it only 11.
In the LDF camp, the CPI is eyeing the seats held by the RSP. In the previous election, when the RSP was with the LDF, it had contested nine seats in the 55 divisions of the corporation and won seven seats.
The RSP (B) also won a seat out of the three seats it contested. The united RSP could not gain from the merger of Thrikkadavoor in the corporation, while a good number of seats from the division is with the RSP.
The Congress party justified the seat division by pointing out that it had given the sitting Parliament seat to the RSP.
The Indian Union Muslim League was defeated in four out of five divisions in the last elections. It will get the RSP’s sitting division of Pallimukku.
The Congress has also decided to hand over Kolloorvila division back to the IUML.
The CPI has demanded equal distribution of the seats earlier held by the RSP.
According to sources, it has also demanded the Mayor post for the first half of the term if the LDF comes to power. Meanwhile, the CPM is yet to decide on the seat division.
The SNDP will field its candidates as independents in all wards under the Punalur Union. According to Mr R. Haridas, secretary of the union, the candidates will contest in all the village, block, and district panchayats.
A convention of the branch members will be conducted in different panchayats under the SNDP’s Punalur Union to decide on the candidates. Three eligible nominations will be called for and the final list will be prepared.
