Kerala polls 2016: UDF partner says it's unhappy with seat-sharing talks

Thiruvananthapura, March 11: Seat-sharing talks by the Congress-led UDF in Kerala for the May 16 Assembly polls with minor partner Kerala Congress (J) seems to have run into trouble with the party alleging they had been insulted.

Its leader said he would not take part in more parleys.

KC(J) chairman Johnny Nellore said he would not attend further seat-sharing talks.

However, party representative and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoob Jacob would represent the party in the talks, Nellore told reporters here.

He also resigned as Chairman of Oushadhi, a state run Ayurvedic pharmacy.

Nellore had unsuccessfully contested from Angamally in Ernakulam district in 2011.

On reports that Congress refused Angamally seat to KC-J this time, Nellore said, "Congress has actually not committed any of the seats to the party. We asked for four seats. This is an insult to our party."

"Piravom, which Anoop Jacob contested and won in 2011 and Angamally is a must seat for us and either two of the seats of Kuttanad, Udumbanchola, Kottarakara and Punalur," he said.

Party cadres were hurt by "media propaganda" that Congress has denied the party the Angamally seat, which he had been "actively nourishing" for the past five years, he said.

Nellore also hoped that Congress would take steps to resolve the issues to carry forward the party with the Front.

"It is the responsibility of Congress to assuage the hurt feeling of partners', he added.

UDF had faced embarrassment last week when one of its partners Kerala Congress(M) split when a group of rebels led by former MP Francis George walked out of the party, accusing its chief K M Mani of functioning unilaterally.

Antony Raju, a former MLA and a member of the party's high-power committee, had said he along with Francis George and Dr K C Joseph, also a former legislator, had decided to leave the party as Mani was functioning in a "unilateral manner".

Another leader P C Joseph had also left the party.

They were all part of Kerala Congress (Joseph) led by Water Resource Minister P J Joseph before it merged with KC (M) ahead of assembly elections in 2011.

They had revived their outfit KC(J) on Mar 9 and said they are holding discussions with the opposition LDF for a tie up.

PTI