UDF seat-sharing by tomorrow

Thiruvananthapuram: The talks on seat-sharing among the UDF allies for the local body elections would be completed by Friday, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy after the UDF meeting here on Wednesday. Any differences with the allies would be amicably settled, he added.

The  allies would fight the polls unitedly, he said and hoped the UDF would  romp home in the elections. But, he also said rebels would be  dealt with sternly.

“Seat-sharing would be finalized at the district level itself.  The allies will remain united to win the  maximum seats. The UDF will not  go for alliance at the regional level. The local bodies elections will be a  mandate for the UDF government,”  said Mr Chandy.

Mr  Chandy, PCC president V. M. Sudheeran and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala will remain in the state capital from October 12 to 14 to address the grievances of allies on seat allocation. During the 2010 local bodies elections, the allies had complained that no KPCC leader was available to address the issues.

There was a demand to condemn Mr Vellappally Natesan for calling Mr Sudheeran as a ‘despicable creature.’  Mr  Chandy said Mr  Sudheeran had replied to Mr Natesan and that it was better to ignore it.

“The UDF meeting also decided that there is no relevance for a third front in the state. The UDF candidates will contest on their respective party symbols only,” said a UDF leader.