LDF crisis blows over, CPI given Ponnani seat

After a day-long high voltage drama over the Ponnani Lok Sabha seat, the crisis in the ruling Left Democratic Front following differences between CPI(M) and CPI appeared to have blown over with the junior partner allowed to select its candidate.

As the Kerala CPI threatened to put up candidates against the CPI(M) in the Lok Sabha polls, top leaders of both parties met in New Delhi this evening with the CPI(M) agreeing that its partner had the prerogative to select the candidate for the Ponnani seat, CPI national secretary D Raja said.

After his meeting with CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat in Delhi, Raja said there was no disagreement and that the seat was allocated to CPI by the LDF and "there was no question of taking it away. It has now been left to the state leadership to sort out the (candidate selection) issue amicably and as soon as possible."

Earlier, CPI's Kerala state secretary V Bhargavan had adopted a belligerent posture and threatening to put up candidates against CPI(M) if the former was not allowed to select a candidate for the Ponnani seat.

The dispute came to the fore with the CPI(M) deciding to field a "common LDF independent" from Ponnani, which the CPI had lost to the Muslim League in the 14th Lok Sabha. Besides Ponnani, the CPI fought the 2004 polls from Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Mavalikkara constituencies.