By IANS,
Thrissur : Discontent in Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) got deeper Wednesday after a senior Communist Party of India (CPI) leader expressed his displeasure over seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha elections.
The ruling Left alliance Tuesday decided to contest 18 of the total 20 seats in the state. LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan said the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) would contest 13 seats, CPI three and Kerala Congress-Joseph one in the polls.
Viswan said the LDF will later decide on an Independent candidate for the Ponani parliamentary constituency.
The CPI is miffed by Viswan’s statement.
“How is that possible? We have already told him (Viswan) to correct his statement because it would be the CPI which will decide on the candidate (for Ponnani),” CPI assistant secretary K.E. Ismail told reporters here.
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, after the weekly cabinet meeting Wednesday, said a suitable candidate would be nominated for Ponnani.
“The candidate who would be fielded would be an Independent of the LDF,” said Achuthanandan.
Minister of state for External Affairs E. Ahamed of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is the sitting member from Ponnani.