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Disagreement over seat sharing may lead to LDF split

D Jose in Thiruvananthapuram

The standoff between the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its allies in the ruling Left Democratic Front over seat-sharing has reached a flash point with two constituents heading towards a collision course with the former.

A parting of ways with the CPI (M) seems to be the only plausible option before the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the National Congress Party at the end of protracted deliberations on Wednesday. The Kollam and Kannur seats form the bone of contention.

The CPI (M) has already stated that its decision to stake claim for these two Lok Sabha seats is irreversible. The RSP, which has been asked to surrender the Kollam seat to the CPI (M), has already gone ahead with its plans to field N K Premachandran as its nominee irrespective of the outcome of the LDF state committee meeting slated for August 15.

The RSP's all-India general secretary K Pankajakshan has hinted that the party would walk out of the LDF rather than face the humiliation of conceding the seat it has contested for 20 years. He has already directed party workers to stay way from the LDF's campaign in all constituencies. "Our workers cannot expect to work for somebody else's victory after throwing us out from the electoral arena," Pankajakshan said.

He told the Rediff.com that the party workers are bound to view the denial of seat to the RSP as a signal that it is not wanted in the LDF. However, the going is not likely to be smooth for the RSP as its two Members in the Legislature Assembly, including Irrigation Minister V P Ramakrishna Pillai have sounded discordant notes.

Pillai and the MLA T Nanoo Master have reportedly expressed their unwillingness to quit the LDF. The RSP leadership views this as the result of attempts by a section of the LDF leadership to engineer yet another split in the party. The RSP (B) faction, which split away early this year, is already hand in glove with the CPI (M) despite being denied an entry into the LDF.

The CPI (M) has sought the two seats as it believes that the RSP and the NCP cannot win them. According to its assessment, the Kollam seat has gone out of the reckoning of the RSP following the split in the party. The CPI (M) believes that the dissidents led by Baby John would make the task difficult for the official faction by fielding its own candidate if the seat is allotted to the latter.

The dissidents have on the other hand declared their support to either a CPI (M) or CPI candidate. "The LDF would lose the seat if it was allotted to any of the two RSP factions. Our attempt is to retain the seat under the LDF," said CPI (M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. As regards Kannur, the CPI (M) calculates that the NCP is not equipped to take on the strong Congress nominee Mullappally Ramachandran, who remains undefeated there since 1984.

The reason for taking away the seat from the NCP is not warranted on calculations of winnability alone. The CPI (M) also fears that the NCP might land in the Bharatiya Janata Party camp following the election.

The NCP is sharply divided over the stand to be taken regarding the seat. While a section in the party is willing to settle for the Muvattupuzha seat, which the Janata Dal has lent to the common pool, the senior leaders are not prepared for any compromise. They feel that the party stands no chance if it accepted Muvattupuzha, which is a stronghold of the United Democratic Front.

The row over the seat sharing is bound to impact on the election prospects of the LDF. The delay in starting the campaign has already conceded considerable advantage to the opposition. Any failure to amicably resolve the row would affect the LDF's chances not only in the two seats but also in several adjoining constituencies, where the respective parties have their pockets of influence. The picture would become clear only after the August 15 LDF state committee meeting.

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