UDF partners to field at least one independent each

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 25. The three major UDF constituents, the Congress, IUML and the Kerala Congress(M), would field at least one independent candidate each in the elections with a view to accommodating various social groups.

The Kerala Congress(M) has been given an additional seat, Kaduthuruthy, under the condition that it would field an independent in one of the 11 seats it has been allowed at the end of the bilateral talks between the Congress and the Kerala Congress(M).

This was one of the terms of agreement arrived at the bilateral talks. However, it appears to be a mere face-saving exercise, and Mr. Mani would end up fielding a party man as an independent candidate, either in Irinjalakuda or Perambra.

Even though the UDF has succeeded in cutting the knot and bringing the Kerala Congress(M) around, it would have to work out a formula to accommodate Mr. T.M. Jacob, whose party, the Kerala Congress (Jacob) has had to sacrifice the Kaduthuruthy seat it contested in 1996. There are several proposals doing their rounds, but have not found wide acceptance.

The Kerala Congress (Jacob) State committee met in Ernakulam this evening to chart out a new plan of action. But the party seems to have accepted the ground reality quite early itself by openly stating taht it was not for friendly contests.

Each of the UDF constituents do not have much options before them, as most of them, including the Congress, survive on rabid anti-Marxist positions. Each of the UDF constituents is keen to ensure that disputes do not grow to unmanageable levels. Hence mutual recriminations were kept at the minimum. Unlike last time, leaders have not publicly attacked each other.

Right from the beginning, the UDF partners came to an understanding that there would be no `friendly contests' as in 1996, and there would be no alliance or understanding outside the UDF framework. Dialogues progressed on these lines. The IUML did make demands for additional seats, but did not press for it.

The smaller coalition partners are likely to be dissatisfied by the numbers they would be getting. Leaders of some of the constituents were wont to compare the treatment meted out to them by the Congress and the treatment given to smaller partners in the LDF by the CPI(M).

Meanwhile, the Congress election panel is meeting here on March 28 and 29 to finalise the list of party candidates for the Assembly elections. The UDF High Power Committee meeting on March 27 is expected to officially announce the number of seats each of the coalition partners would be contesting.

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Section  : Southern States
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