THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Emboldened by the tacit understanding reached in the Congress- IUML meeting, the Congress top brass on Tuesday took a tough posture dropping hints to Kerala Congress (M) and KC(Jacob) factions that the party could not be coerced further.
Sending a clear message to the Kerala Congress factions that it would have to make the climbdown for an amicable settlement, Congress leadership, including the troika Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Home Minister Ramesh chennithala and KPCC president V M Sudheeran, told the KC(Jacob) faction that their demand for the Ankamali seat could not be accepted. However, KC(J) chairman Johny Nelloore is likely to be given the Udumbanchola seat. Roji M John, NSU All-India president is the most likely candidate from Ankamali, party insiders said.
However, a final decision in this regard would be taken only after the bilateral discussion, which has been postponed to March 28.
‘IUML Content with 24 Seats’
Earlier in the morning, the meeting held with the Muslim League leadership ended with the latter expressing readiness to be content with the 24 seats it had contested last time.
PressurE on KC(M)
It is learnt that both the Congress and Muslim league had entered into a implicit agreement to mount pressure on Kerala congress(M), which has been raising undue claim for more seats though many of its leadrs had quit the party to join Kerala congress(D) led by Francis George.
IUML-Cong Seat Swapping
Expressing satisfaction over the outcome, IUML leader and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said that League was making the climbdown from their demand for more seats. However, there would be swapping of two seats between the Congress and League. Balusseri seat in possession of the Congress and Kunnamangalam seat contested last time by League would would be swapped. Tough talks were on to swap Kuttiadi and Nadapuram seats as well, it was decided to retain the seats for this time. The League’s demand for the Karunagapllay seat was rejected with the offer to grant the Chandayamangalam seat.