KOTTAYAM:In what could be viewed as a follow-up to the offer made by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan to Kerala Congress (M) chairman and Finance Minister K M Mani, the Meenachil union of the Yogam is likely to enter into a tie-up with the KC(M) for the election to the local bodies in Pala. According to sources close to Yogam, KC (M) may offer it two seats.
It is learnt that the Yogam has already started talks with the KC(M) in this regard. Interestingly, the BJP is nowhere in the scene. The saffron party could not make much progress in its talks with the Yogam’s Meenachil union leadership but has in-principle agreed to seat-sharing terms in other unions including Changanassery, Kottayam and Vaikom in the district.
According SNDP Meenachil union secretary Adv K M Santhosh Kumar, Yogam has not struck any deal with any political party. “Yogam leadership has decided to field only independent candidates. However, we have not reached any agreement with anyone. We will seek the support of like-minded political parties,” he said. He pointed out that the KC(M) had offered a couple of seats to Yogam in the previous elections in Pala and added such a move could not be ruled out this time as well.
Santhosh is busy with Yogam’s various meetings across the state and talks will be resumed on Friday after he returns to Pala.
Meanwhile, BJP district president Ettumanoor Radhakrishnan said the party leadership didn’t have any knowledge about any such understanding between the Yogam and the KC(M). “We don’t have any connection with such talks and we will definitely field candidates against the KC(M) contestants in all places,” said Radhakrishnan.
He added the BJP would make significant progress in Kottayam, Vaikom and Ettumanoor municipalities with the support of the SNDP and was likely to storm to power in these areas. The BJP leadership is also eying SNDP strongholds, Kottayam, especially, Kumarakom, Aymanam, Kurichi, Kooroppada, Pallikkathodu and Chirakkadu. BJP is also planning to hold talks with other community organisations including the KPMS and the AKCHMS.