LDF not to expand front before polls

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: LDF state committee on Friday declined to induct Janathipathya  Kerala Congress, the break away faction of the Kerala Congress Mani, into the front before the Assembly election.

The meeting held at the AKG Centre decided to put on hold any discussions or decisions related to expansion of LDF till Assembly elections get over in May. The faction led by Francis George wanted his new party to be inducted and given the place that erstwhile Kerala Congress (Joseph) enjoyed in LDF earlier.

The LDF leaders also held broad discussions on the campaign and issues to be included in the manifesto. However, seat sharing discussions will continue among allies over the next week. During this period fresh round of bilateral talks will be held between different allies.

The LDF state committee will meet again on March 19 to decide on the final list of candidates. Prior to this meeting, all allies including CPM, CPI, JDS, NCP and fellow travellers like Janathipathya Kerala Congress, JSS, Kerala Congress faction of V Surendran Pillai are expected to finalise their candidates list.

Meanwhile, the CPM is like to make changes in the norms laid down earlier by secretariat for candidates. The secretariat had fixed criteria like declining ticket to people who have won twice, one women in each district, keeping out district secretaries and just one third of secretariat members should contest.

There is a feeling in the party that declining tickets to formidable candidates just because they have won twice, could harm the electoral prospects of the party in such a high stake elections.  The state secretariat of the party will finalise the candidates by March 16 and send it for approval of the central leadership.