'Rajya Sabha seat belongs to us, no other party has the right', CPI toughens position considering Kerala Congress move

KOTTAYAM: CPI said that the Rajya Sabha seat does not belong to any other party and it will not be given up. In response to Kerala Congress's move to vie for one of the three vacant Rajya Sabha seats, the CPI is adopting a more assertive stance, demanding representation in the steering committee meeting of the LDF scheduled for today in Kottayam.

With the terms of Elamaram Karim, Benoy Viswam and Jose K Mani concluding on July 1, both the Congress and the CPI are vigorously competing for the Kerala seat. LDF has the potential to secure two out of the three available seats. CPI asserts that the unclaimed seat rightfully belongs to them. On the other hand, Kerala Congress aims to ensure a Rajya Sabha ticket for Jose K. Mani once again.

CPI leadership has decided to formally address the seat issue in the LDF meeting. LDF clarifies that the matter of the Rajya Sabha seat has not yet been deliberated within the coalition and no party has officially staked a claim to it.

In the meantime, CPI's executive predicts victory in three state Lok Sabha constituencies. The party expresses confidence in securing victories in the Thrissur and Mavelikara constituencies. Moreover, CPI anticipates a narrow win for Pannyan Ravindran in Thiruvananthapuram. Additionally, the executive estimates a significant reduction in Rahul Gandhi's margin of victory in Wayanad. CPI also predicts that the LDF will secure 12 seats overall.