CPI needs more seats, talks to go on
The party has staked claim for Thiruvananthpuram, Idukki, Changanassery, Kothamangalam, Aranmula, Kanjirapally and Irikkur.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seat sharing talks between CPM and CPI failed to reach a consensus with the latter sticking to its demand for increasing the number of seats from 27 contested in 2011 to 29 this time.
The bilateral meeting held between top CPM leaders and CPI delegation headed by Kanam Rajendran could not reach an agreement on seat sharing. Apart from 27 seats, the CPI is demanding Eravipuram which was allotted to RSP in last elections and any seat in Malabar region barring Malappuram.
With CPM leadership reluctant to accept the demand of the number two in LDF in view of the demands for setas coming in from various non alliance parties like Janathipathya Kerala Congress, JSS, RSP(Leninist) Kerala Congress headed by Scaria Thomas and INL, bilateral talks with CPI and other parties will be held again on Friday.
The talks held between CPM and Janathipathya Kerala Congress held on Thursday too failed to reach a consensus on seats. Francis George’s party has demanded seven seats, mainly those which were traditionally contested by the Kerala Congress (Joseph).
The party has staked claim for Thiruvananthpuram, Idukki, Changanassery, Kothamangalam, Aranmula, Kanjirapally and Irikkur. While the CPM leadership is keen to have Francis George on board, it is not willing to concede that many seats.