The LDF may now confine to the Left Front only as both the CPI and the CPI (M) have shared all the 20 seats in the state in the ratio of 4 :16.
The ruling UDF now gets the support of two more MLAs as the RSP has joined the Front, taking its tally to 75 in the state Assembly.
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The RSP (Baby John) faction, which is already in the UDF, will merge with RSP, taking its strength to three in the Assembly. This gives a clear political advantage to the Congress party and the UDF in Kerala, as its seat sharing is rather smooth and transparent.
The UDF has decided to allot the Palakkad constituency to its ally Janata Dal (United).
This time, the Congress party will contest from 16 Lok Sabha segments. While the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) gets two seats, the Kerala Congress (Mani) gets one.
The Janata Dal (S) is confident of a strong bargain for the one seat with the exit of RSP from the LDF. Their leaders told the party would contest in four constituencies if they are denied a seat. The move would clearly place the LDF leadership in a defensive as the Janata Dal (S) has a stronghold in the Malabar region, especially in Lok Sabha segments like Vatakara and Wayanad. So their ‘friendly match’ with the LDF would jeopardise the prospects of LDF candidates in at least 5-6 seats.
However, the LDF is yet to take a decision on the demand of Janata Dal (S). This is very difficult for them as both CPI and CPI(M) had shared all the seats and the CPI (M) has announced its candidates for 15 seats. So, giving one seat to Janata Dal will make the situation more complex for them.
The RSP candidate, NK Premachandran, former minister in the LDF cabinet, will contest from Kollam as a UDF candidate. AA Azeez, RSP state secretary, told mediapersons they would not alter their decision under any circumstance and would be a part of UDF.
It is also interesting that at the national level, RSP is part of the Left Front, which is opposing the Congress at the national level.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) secretary Prakash Karat said his party’s central leadership had nothing to do with the developments in Kerala. The CPI leadership is rather annoyed with the latest developments in Kerala as this strongly upsets the working of the Left Front at the national level. Both CPI secretary P Sudhakar Reddy and former secretary AB Bardhan expressed concern over the RSP move in Kerala.
VS Achuthanandan, Opposition leader, termed RSP's decision as ‘unfortunate’. But the state leaders of CPI(M) are passive over the issue and reserved their comments. Now, they are keen on adding small parties like the Indian National League (INL) and Janathipathya Socialist Party (JSS), under the leadership of veteran Communist leader KR Gowri Amma, to the LDF in order to ‘compensate’ the loss of RSP.
IUML to field E Ahamed from Malappuram
Meanwhile, the the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has decided to field E Ahamed from the Malappuram constituency. An IUML secretariat meeting held today at Kozhikode cleared the name of Ahamed, while the official announcement would be made later.
The party has taken this decision as there was no consensus over a fresh face for the Malappuram seat. NRI businessman PV Abdul Wahab made a strong pressure for the seat, but the party’s high-power committee was not in favour.
He even threatened to contest from Wayanad unless he gets the Malappuram seat. This confusion over the candidature forced IUML secretariat to once again select Ahamed for the seat. For Ponnanithe, the party has tipped ET Muhammed Basheer, the sitting MP.