The toughest nut to crack has been the Kerala Congress (Mani). The KC(M), which had been allotted 11 seats in the 2006 elections, is demanding 22 seats this time. Its reasoning is that the party’s strength has increased enormously with the merger in it of the Kerala Congress (Joseph), which was in the Left Democratic Front (LDF) camp in 2006.

Mani’s argument is this: the KC(J) had contested six seats while it was part of the LDF. Therefore, post-merger, the KC(M) is automatically entitled to 17 seats – 11 of its own and 6 of the KC(J). As its influence has risen considerably following the merger, the KC(M) chief, Mr K M Mani has demanded 22 seats.

The Congress is not inclined to let the KC(M) its way. The party is ready to give the KC(M) not more than 15 seats, which the former has rejected. Also, Mani’s unilateral announcement that Mr P J Joseph, who was the KC(J) chief, would be the party candidate in Todupuzha constituency has vitiated the seat-sharing talks. Mani contends that Mr Joseph has been winning from the seat consistently. Hence he deserves to be the candidate from there. But the Congress is not prepared to buy the argument. In fact, the Idukki District Congress Committee has said that there is no question of Congress allowing Joseph to contest from Todupuzha, which is a Congress stronghold. It remains to be seen how the Congress will resolve the problem.

The talks with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the second largest constituent of the UDF, have also run into hurdles. The IUML is demanding 23 seats this time, too. But the bone of contention is the four new seats that have come up in Malappuram district, following delimitation. While the Congress is ready to give the IUML only one seat, the latter is insisting that it be given at least two.

Smaller parties like the Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS) led by former Marxist veteran K R Gowri, are also giving the Congress a tough time. The JSS is in no mood to accept anything less than five seats which it had contested in the 2006 elections. The Congress has ruled out giving it more than three. Gowri has openly threatened to leave the UDF if her demand for five seats is not conceded. It is an open secret that Gowri has been having secret talks with the CPI(M) and other LDF leaders.

Likewise, the new entrant to the UDF camp, Socialist Janata (Democratic), led by Mr Veerendra Kumar, has also embarrassed the Congress by stalking its claim to 18 seats! The Congress has let it be known that the SJD will have to be content with 6 or 7 seats. The SJD is resentful of the Congress’s take-it-or-leave-it attitude.

As time is running out, the Congress will have to take an early decision in the matter of seat allocation. Otherwise, it could find it tough to meet the deadline for withdrawal of nominations. (IPA)