KOLLAM: Even as the deadlock over the Eravipuram Assembly seat continues, the UDF and the LDF are frantically scrambling for a silver-bullet.If the UDF is scratching their heads trying to zero in on which ally to allot the seat to, a tug of war has already begun between CPM and CPI over the seat.
As a matter of fact, history of sorts will be in the making as both fronts fight a bitter battle for Eravipuram. With the RSP walking out from the LDF over the Parliament seat, the upcoming Assembly polls will be a matter of pride for both the RSP (which merged with Shibu Baby John’s RSP) and the CPM.
If the seat is given to the CPM, then it will be for the first time that the party will be fielding a candidate in Eravipuram since 1957.
In 1957 and 1960, CPI’s Raveendran had emerged victorious beating Praja Socialist Party’s candidates.
After the split of Communist party in 1964 neither the CPI nor the CPM had fielded candidates there on its own but had ably supported the RSP as out of the 14 times mandate was sought from Eravipuram (barring 1965 as neither of the parties had won majority and President’s Rule was imposed) RSP had won nine times.
Brushing aside the clouds hovering over the Eravipuram seat for the UDF, an RSP state committee member told ‘Express’ that a consensus has been reached in the first round of talks itself. “I think the IUML is considering the Eravipuram seat as leverage for some other seats in northern Kerala. The rumors regarding indecision over Eravipuram were false. As far as RSP is concerned, it will come out with a clear picture after the state committee and state secretariat meeting to be convened at Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday,” said the leader on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, IUML leaders said that they were yet to decide on the seat as differences of opinion has cropped up within the party over taking the Chadayamangalam seat and the Indian National Congress is adamant towards keeping Karunagapally seat, which the League has set its eyes on.
Other Outings
As a matter of fact, history of sorts will be in the making as both fronts fight a bitter battle for Eravipuram.
With the RSP walking out from the LDF over the LS seat, the Assembly polls will be a matter of pride for both the RSP (which merged with RSP(B) and the CPM
If the seat is given to CPM, then it will be for the first time that the party will be fielding a candidate in Eravipuram since 1957. In 1957 and 1960, CPI’s Raveendran had emerged victorious beating Praja Socialist Party’s candidates
Not a UDF Borough
For UDF, Eravipuram is not one of its strongholds as they have only tasted victory two times since 1957. It was Congress’ Abdul Rahim who trounced the sitting MLA Raveendran in the 1965 polls. After that, P K K Bava of Muslim League upset RSP’s sitting MLA V P Ramakrishna Pillai in 1991. The other outings had proved disastrous for them, especially for the Muslim League. After the victory in 1991, Muslim League had contested from Eravipuram for four times and every time they missed the target by a good mile. But UDF insiders are of the opinion that the coming polls would bring cheer for them at as RSP is set to contest from Eravipuram. It’s said that the UDF had decided on fielding A A Aziz, the sitting MLA, from the segment. If that’s the case, then Aziz will be seeking the mandate for the fourth time in a row.