Congress and CPM join hands to fight Muslim League in Malappuram panchayat

MALAPPURAM: Can you imagine the Congress joining hands with the CPM to challenge the IUML in the elections to a panchayat in Malappuram? Defying coalition dharma, the Congress is flirting with the CPM, floating Janakeeya Munnani, in Ponmundam to take on the IUML which is the dominant force in the panchayat. Neither ideological differences nor the UDF unity have come in the way. That too when the CPM has only a modest presence in the panchayat. Both the IUML and the Congress have never shared a cordial relationship in the panchayat ever since its formation. As per the current understanding, the Congress will contest 11 of the 18 seats, the CPM will field candidates in five, and Team Ponmundam will take the remaining two. IUML state general secretary P M A Salam made his displeasure clear. Our stand is that elections must be fought as a united UDF front in all local bodies. Whats happening in Ponmundam is unfortunate. Although there were talks at the local level, no solution was reached. We have conveyed our concerns to the Congress leadership and hope the issue will be resolved before the elections are announced, he told TNIE. Forced on the defensive, Congress leaders now claim that nothing is final. Wandoor MLA and KPCC working president A P Anil Kumar said the party is open to talks. Ponmundam has a very distinct political history. The UDF doesnt function there in a conventional sense. But since IUML has raised concerns, we have asked local leaders to hold talks with the district leadership. No final seat-sharing decision has been made yet, he said. Meanwhile, the CPM has taken a characteristically confident stance, asserting that it will welcome support from any section disillusioned with the UDF. We have no official alliance with the Congress in Ponmundam. But several Congress workers have now placed their faith in the CPM - and we welcome their votes, said CPM district secretary V P Anil. Our priority is unity in Left front A reverse shake-up is visible in Vazhayur, where the CPI has broken ranks with the LDF and aligned with the UDF, deciding to contest four seats under its banner. The Congress has welcomed the move, further underlining the fluidity of the districts political landscape. We will not align with the CPM under any circumstance. But the CPIs position is different if they wish to stand with the UDF, we welcome them, said Anil Kumar. The CPM, however, downplayed CPIs departure as a temporary rift. Its true there are local issues between the parties, but the LDF is addressing them through internal discussions. Our priority remains the unity of the Left front, said the CPM district secretary. Echoing the sentiment, CPI district secretary P K Krishnadas confirmed that the matter was discussed in Thursdays LDF meeting. Both parties have appointed representatives to resolve the issue before the campaign begins. Our decision is to preserve LDF unity and avoid open confrontation, he said. Similar issues are there in UDF in Karuvarakundu and Makkaraparamba panchayats. However, the district leadership is hopeful about resolving internal differences before the election declaration.