Pressure mounts on CPM to select Rajya Sabha candidates

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With two seats about to get vacant for LDF in the Rajya Sabha, Kerala Congress M and CPI kickstarted the pressure tactics, putting the CPM in a fix.

However, it is yet to be known whether CPM will budge to the demands. Placed in an uncomfortable position with just one MP from Kerala, CPM craves more representation in the parliament. The state secretariat meeting of the party to be held today will discuss the issue of Rajya Sabha seats. The date for submission of papers for the three vacancies from Kerala in the Rajya Sabha started on Thursday. The deadline is on June 13th. The one seat received for UDF will be represented by a Muslim League candidate.

Although the CPI currently has one member in the Rajya Sabha (P. Santhosh Kumar), the party is keen to regain back the seat to be vacated by leader Binoy Viswam. Kerala Congress-M chief Jose K. Mani wants a return to the Rajya Sabha to keep alive his political ambitions or else will have to consider detouring back to the UDF camp.

Meanwhile, with the victory of Francis George in Kottayam, the Joseph faction of Kerala Congress M will get the state party status in addition to the MP position. This will be decisive when it comes to party names and symbols.