Kochi: The UDF seat sharing talks which began in Kochi on Tuesday failed to make headway with the Muslim League and the Kerala Congress (Mani) insisting on one more seat which the Congress said was difficult to concede since the elections are to the Lok Sabha and Congress needs to win maximum seats. Both sides decided to continue talks next month.
At first the Congress leaders AICC general secretary Oommen Chandy, UDF convener Benny Behanan and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala held talks with League leaders P.K. Kunhalikutty MP, M.K. Muneer MLA and KPA Majeed. With the three League leaders insisting on having three seats, it was decided to contiue talks on March 1 at Kozhikode.
In the talks held with Kerala Congress leaders, sources said P.J. Joseph and K.M. Mani didn’t see eye to eye. With Joseph expressing keeness to contest, they stuck to the demand for two seats. However, the Congress leaders said that having given the Rajya Sabha seat to Jose K. Mani, when one Lok Sabha seat is given to KC (M), effectively it has been given two seats. Oommen Chandy reminded the KC (M) leaders of the revolt in Congress when the RS seat was given to Jose Mani. They said it was unthinkable to give two LS seats to KC(M). Following this it was decided to hold talks again on March 3 at Kochi.
The three Congress leaders later held talks with RSP, Kerala Congress (Jacob), CMP and Forward Bloc leaders. Since he was leading the Mahajana Yatra, KPCC president Mullappally Ramacha-ndran could not attend the talks. But he will attend the next round of talks with which the UDF hopes to conclude the seat sharing talks. Though CMP staked claim for upcoming Rajya Sabha seat, but it was not discussed at the meeting.
Congress poll panel will meet on March 4 in which the party hopes to finalise its candidates.
In Tuesday’s talks, it was decided to give the Kollam seat to RSP and the party will declare its candidate there. Anoop Jacob of Kerala Congress (Jacob) staked claim to Idukki seat.
Briefing newsmen Ramesh Chennithala said there was nothing wrong in the approach of UDF constituents in asking for more seats since UDF is a democratic setup unlike LDF
