Kochi: In a morning of hectic activity, the leaders of Congress and Kerala Congress (M) met at the government guest house here for the second round of seat sharing talks on Sunday ahead of the impending Lok Sabha elections. But it failed to make much headway prompting them to go for a third round of talks at Aluva on Tuesday.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Opposition leader and UDF chairman Ramesh Chennithala claimed that significant progress could be made in the talks and a decision will be made in the last round of talks at Aluva. However, striking a discordant note, KC (M) chairman K.M. Mani said that nobody should think that KC (M) had gone back from its demand for two seats.
The Congress leaders who participated in the talks, KPCC chief Mull-appally Ramachandran, UDF convener Benny Be-hanan and Ramesh Che-nnithala himself made it clear that Congress was in no mood to part with a second seat. Congress is wary of IUML too staking such a claim in the event of conceding to Mani’s demand.
Sources said Mani himself suggested another round of talks which the Congress leaders accepted. They said that Congress leaders believe that Mani will try for a consensus in his party on agreeing to one seat for Lok Sabha elections.
Prior to the start of the talks, KC (M) leader P.J. Joseph made it clear he is still in the fray saying if the party demanded he will contest. The body language of Joseph and Mani made it clear that they don’t see eye to eye even now.
