In a major political development that could tilt the balance between the LDF and UDF in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts, the RSP has decided to sever ties with the Left front, protesting against the “ill-treatment” meted out to it by the CPM.
The RSP state secretariat on Saturday morning took the decision to go it alone in the Lok Sabha polls. The decision was endorsed by the state committee at a meeting held in the afternoon. The meeting also decided to field former minister N K Premachandran in Kollam.
However, RSP national general secretary T J Chandrachoodan said it was for the central leadership to decide whether the party should sever ties with the LDF or not.
Party state secretary A A Aziz MLA and Premachandran said the CPM had cited the split in the RSP as the reason for denying it the Kollam seat and fielded P Rajendran twice. When Rajendran was defeated in the last Lok Sabha polls, the RSP reiterated its stand that the seat should be returned to it, they added.
They further said CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had six months ago agreed to look into their demand but hadn’t held any talks with the RSP over the issue.
Aziz and Premachandran said they had received calls from UDF leaders offering support if they quit the LDF.
“We have decided to contest in Kollam on our own. We have also decided not to continue in the LDF,” Aziz said.
On whether the RSP will be holding talks with the UDF, he said: “If an official invite comes from the UDF camp, we will consider it. But as of now, our decision is to contest the election alone. But we will accept support from anyone.”
Aziz ruled out a rethink on the decision even if the CPM changed its mind. Stating that the RSP had long tolerated “ill-treatment” at the hands of the CPM, he accused the coalition leader of having tried to “systematically obliterate” the party. “First, the CPM took away the Kuttippuram Assembly seat from us. The next step was to limit our Assembly seats from six to four,” he said.
Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan asked the RSP to rethink the move to go it alone. Pinarayi also said the RSP should try to talk through the differences with the LDF.
In the event of the RSP withdrawing support, the LDF will lose its majority in the Paravoor municipality. In the Kollam corporation, the front will then have a majority of just one seat. The LDF will lose its majority in the Thiruvananthapuram corporation as well.