Assembly election: Congress to hold talks with JDU, Kerala Congress (Mani)

Thiruvananthapuram: The ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) has decided to hold bilateral talks between the Congress and alliance partners Janata Dal (United) and the Kerala Congress (Mani) on March 3 and 4 to finalise seats for the coming assembly elections. The meeting of the UDF on Tuesday also decided to expel the faction of the JSS led by Rajan Babu from the UDF.

The Congress had completed bilateral talks with the Muslim League on Tuesday. The League is understood to have decided against exchanging seats they won during the last elections with the Congress. However, they are ready to exchange seats they lost.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said the UDF government which has kept all promises given to the people would be approaching the Assembly election with full confidence.

“On the other hand the LDF, which had lost self-confidence, has been running away from even Assembly sessions,” the chief minister said after inaugurating Thiruvananthapuram District Convention of the UDF kickstarting the campaign for Assembly election. “They are afraid to hold discussions and are making allegations. They are scared to hold discussions regarding the allegations.”

The leaders who attended the function included KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty.