THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress is making all-out efforts to settle the disputes with the allies on seat-sharing during the talks to be held at Cliff House, the official residence of the Chief Minister, on Monday and Tuesday. The Congress election committee will also meet at the KPCC office in the presence of Mr Mukul Wasnik, AICC general secretary in charge of the state.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, KPCC president V. M. Sudheeran and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala are expected to finalise the candidates’ list only after Easter holidays.
The Congress has refused to allot any more seats to the KC (M) other than the existing 18 causing resentment among the KC(M) leaders. An agreement has been reached between the Congress and the JD(U) on swapping Kuttanad and Poonjar and giving one seat in Alappuzha district.
If the JD(U) is given Nemom, the Congress would demand a strong candidate there. In the 2011 Assembly elections, JD(U)’s Charupara Ravi who contested under the SJD banner had come a distant third after CPM’s V. Sivankutty and BJP’s O. Rajagopal.
Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty has asked the Congress leadership to first settle the seat-sharing with the KC (M). The Congress is planning to swap Kuttiyadi and Nadapuram with Muslim League. KC (J) chairman Johnny Nelloor hopes to get Angamaly during the talks on Monday. But the Congress may also ask him to accept Idukki. It has also decided to give five seats to the RSP out of the six it demanded.
