THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: NCP state chief T P Peethambaran Master has raised the demand for seat distribution in the LDF meet before the assembly elections. But, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan who denied the demand of NCP said that the seat distribution talks will be initiated later. With this, the LDF meet discussed other common issues and dispersed. Earlier, convenor A Vijayaraghavan has said that seat distribution talks will not be conducted in this LDF meet. Senior NCP leader Mani C Kappan has not participated in the LDF meet held on Wednesday.

He has already informed LDF leaders that he will only take part in the meet after ongoing talks with the party’s national chief Sharad Pawar has concluded. Whereas party’s state chief Peethambaran Master justified Kappan’s absence in the meet citing the covid 19 protocol which allowed only two persons from each party to participate in the meeting.

The agenda of LDF meet convened on Wednesday was to discuss the pre-poll campaign, other election programmes of LDF and also the agenda to be presented in the poll manifesto. NCP demanded to clear the mist over Pala seat at this time, which the chief minister ruled out.

Before setting out for the LDF meet, TP Peethambaran Master has said that NCP will contest in the Pala seat. These things will be discussed with the party’s national chief on February 1. He has also said earlier that Pala seat is not a bone of contention and nobody has said so far to give up the seat. “If the seat is not given then NCP will not leave the left front. No talks were held on this issue. NCP will contest in Pala seat and there is no different opinion in the party over it,” he said.

Peethambaran Master also opined that more parties joining the front would facilitate for the front’s expansion. Sources say that If the seat issue becomes a topic of discussion in the front, then CPI’s opinion would play a crucial role. Meanwhile, other LDF leaders might pacify NCP by giving them the Rajyasabha seat of Jose K Mani instead of the assembly seat.