CPM plays down CPI's threat

13 March 2009
Thiruvananthapuram: Seeking to downplay CPI's threat to pull out of LDF in Kerala over seat sharing for Lok Sabha polls, CPM Friday said the ally could not take such a stand so long it is part of a "national political line." "CPI is a part of our alliance at the national level. They cannot simply shift from that position so long it is part of a national political line," CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Soon after CPI leader Veliyam Bhargavan's warning that his party would field candidates against the CPM contestants if its demand for four seats, including Ponnani, was not met, he said the Left partner should give up its "adamant" stand as there was no issue which could not be settled through talks.

Vijayan said his party had not taken away any of the four seats of the CPI or unilaterally imposed its diktat on allies.

CPI had agreed to the decision to put up a "common Independent" in Ponnani initially and it was CPI leader K.E. Ismail who identified Hussein Randathani as a candidate.

It could be some inner-party issues that prompted CPI's "somersault" on the matter, he said, adding there was still room for the coalition to discuss the Ponnani issue. In the case of Kozhikode seat, the issue was being discussed with JD (S), he said.