THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The UDF has decided to bring in a code of conduct in places where its partners are engaged in a “friendly contest”.
The meeting of UDF partners could not find a solution to the issue, much to the embarrassment of the KPCC leadership.
Hectic parleys were held at KPCC office on Wednesday to sort out the issues in Malabar between the Congress party and the IUML.
While Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the dispute over seat sharing were resolved, IUML leader P. K. Kunhalikutty said there were no issues at all.
But KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran said, under no circumstances, an alliance out of UDF would be tolerated.
In Malappuram, local Congress units have locked horns with the IUML and in Kottayam, KC (M) is their opponent in several places.
A Congress leader told DC that the KPCC leadership unanimously decided on the code of conduct to avoid “friendly contest”.
“If anyone cooperates with parties outside the UDF, then stringent action would be taken against them. In more than 30 panchayats, allies are fighting each other,” said Mr Sudheeran.
Initially, he held talks with Congress ministers from Malappuram, Aryadan Mohammed and A. P. Anil Kumar.
A senior Congress leader told DC, with the stage set for contests between the UDF allies in nearly 15 grama panchayats and a block panchayat, the discussion was the last bid to solve the dispute.
Incidentally, a majority of the poll aspirants had filed their nominations before the deadline ended at 3 pm.
“Only after the withdrawal of nominations on Saturday, a final picture will emerge. Unfortunately, KPCC leadership has been showing a feudal mentality, and it is only them who is going to be the most affected,” said a senior UDF leader.
