United on the outside, discord within: Internal tensions rise across all three fronts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As political fronts claim they will face the local body elections united and make major gains, internal disputes continue in many districts. Due to these disagreements, the announcement of candidates has been delayed in several areas.

In the UDF, the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League- the two main partners- are clashing in some districts. In other places, Congress rebels are creating hurdles. In the LDF, the CPM and CPI are at odds, while the Kerala Congress has issues in a few districts. For the NDA, tensions with BDJS remain unresolved.

Seat-sharing and candidate selection for grama panchayats and block panchayats are mostly complete, but disputes continue in municipalities, district panchayats, and corporations. Only in the Ernakulam and Thrissur corporations are the disagreements minimal. In Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the Congress surprised other parties by announcing the first list early, but could not maintain the momentum. The party released 67 names in two rounds. A KPCC general secretary even resigned over the selection in one ward. LDF later published its list of 93 candidates, gaining a slight advantage.

Kollam
The UDF announced 22 candidates for the Kollam Corporation, but disputes continue with the RSP and the Muslim League. The RSP wants to change from the Thevally ward, where its candidate has lost three times, but Congress is refusing. Talks on swapping seats with the League also failed. A new ward is being claimed by Kerala Congress and CPI, while CPM is also trying to take it. NDA announced 21 candidates, but the BJP faces internal issues in two wards.

Kannur
Seat-sharing talks between Congress and the Muslim League in Kannur Corporation remain tense. Three rounds of discussions failed. The League wants some wards previously contested by Congress. A 2020 document showing an agreement to give the Varam ward to the League has caused further friction.

Within the LDF, CPM is unwilling to give a seat to INL, leading to tension. INL district president Siraj Thayyil has resigned in protest.

Alappuzha
Disputes within both UDF and LDF have delayed candidate announcements in the Alappuzha municipality and district panchayat. Congress rebels are the main issue for the UDF. The CPI demanding more seats is troubling the LDF.

Kottayam and Pathanamthitta also face internal conflicts within both fronts over municipal ward allocations.

Mani group pressures for more seats
Kerala Congress (M) is pressuring the LDF for more seats in the local elections. The party wants 25% more seats than last time. It claims strong influence in Kottayam, Idukki, and Pathanamthitta district panchayats and aims to contest over 1,200 seats this time.

In the previous local elections, the party contested more than 900 seats and won 356. Based on this, chairman Jose K. Mani has instructed district leaders to push strongly during seat-sharing talks.

The party wants additional seats in the central Travancore region and plans to demand more in other districts as well. Meanwhile, CPM district committees have been instructed not to give in too easily to Kerala Congress (M)’s demands.