Kerala CPM-CPI tussle keeps LDF in a tangle

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The tumult within the ruling Kerala Left Democratic Front over the Ponnani seat seemed no closer to a solution on Tuesday, even as speculation heightened that the CPI would be pacified by offering them the Wayanad seat instead.

CPM and CPI, the key parties of the Left coalition in Kerala, have been at loggerheads over the Ponnani seat, which the CPI believes is its seat while the CPM contends that the candidate there should be a Left-backed, mutually acceptable independent.

The CPI has reaffirmed that it would not accept the independent candidate in the fray in Ponnani, Hussein Randathani, whom the CPM is backing. Having taken an irretrievable stand on the matter, it is now speculated that the CPM and CPI may work out a face-saving formula for the latter by allotting Wayanad to CPI.

Meanwhile, Randathani has kicked off campaigning in Ponnani, underlining the fact that the CPI's chances of having its candidate there are remote.

The LDF also has to contend with the dissatisfaction in the ranks of the Janata Dal (Secular), which was denied the Kozhikode seat. JD(S) was quick to react to that decision by withdrawing its lone minister in the V S Achuthanandan ministry, transport minister Mathew T Thomas.

The development has left a question mark over the JD(S)'s approach to the campaigning, even as there is talk of a likelihood of the party splitting ahead of the polls.

Earlier, the RSP had also expressed displeasure with the CPM when the party was denied the Kollam seat. Unlike the JD(S), the RSP went back on its threat of withdrawing its minister for being denied the Kollam seat.

CPM and CPI leaders are working over time to thrash out a solution with regard to the Ponnani imbroglio and a solution is expected to emerge in the next few days.