Rajya Sabha Election: CPM to initiate seat sharing talks with other LDF allies

Thiruvananthapuram: CPM is set to start discussions with other allies of Left Democratic Front (LDF) to address disputes over seat share in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

A meeting with the Kerala Congress (M) group is slated for June 8, with an invitation extended to its leader Jose K Mani. It is learnt that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will participate in the deliberations.

The LDF stands poised to win two out of three Rajya Sabha seats. While the first seat is earmarked for the CPM, there is no contention from them regarding the second seat designated for the CPI. Binoy Viswam, the CPI State secretary, has already asserted the party's entitlement to this seat.

In addition to the discussions with the KC(M), negotiations are underway with other parties such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), among others.

The dates for submitting nomination papers is set from June 7 to 13. Smooth progress in the LDF discussions hinges upon consensus being reached through bilateral discussions. The CPI, possessing 17 seats in the state assembly, is a crucial ally of the LDF. Thus, CPM supports the CPI's claim for a second seat in the Rajya Sabha. However, it also does not want to give cold shoulders to the KC(M). Hence, the CPM's initial focus is on the dialogue with the KC(M).