THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The NCP claimed for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat in the state from within the Left Front. The NCP asked seat for P C Chacko, a senior Congress leader, who left the party. Party's national president Sharad Pawar telephoned the chief minister and requested him for the seat. Pawar called the chief minister yesterday. Kerala Kaumudi Online had first reported that Pawar would call the chief minister requesting a seat for Chacko.

Pawar told the chief minister that Chacko's presence in the Rajya Sabha would benefit the Left at the national level. However, it is not clear what the chief minister said. The Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for April 12 was frozen by the Election Commission following a directive of the Union Law Ministry. The high court will consider today the pleas of the CPM and the assembly secretary filed against it. It is in between this, Pawar calling the chief minister.

If the Rajya Sabha elections are held before the announcement of assembly election results, the LDF can win two seats. However, if elections are held after the new assembly assumes power, the chances of the LDF will be based on the count of the seats.

There was an agreement earlier between the CPM and the NCP that Mani C Kappan would be given the vacant Rajya Sabha seat instead of Pala. However, after Kappan stood firm for Pala and held official talks with the UDF, Pinarayi informed Praful Patel that the Rajya Sabha seat would not be given. The NCP is of the stand that a top leader like Chacko should be given the seat. Although Chacko had tried for the Rajya Sabha seat when he was in the Congress, he did not get it.

Chacko, who resigned from the congress had called on CPM national secretary Sitaram Yechury in New Delhi. The two met at AKG Bhavan in Delhi. Though talks were not held related to Rajya Sabha seat, his aim was to ensure support from the CPM national leadership. Chacko, who shared dais with chief minister, is now active in campaigning for the LDF.

The stage is set for Rajya Sabha election after the terms of Vayalar Ravi, P V Abdul Wahab and K K Ragesh ended. The CPM is mainly considering central committee member Viju Krishnan for the Rajya Sabha seat. Cherian Philip and Thomas Isaac are also considered for the seat.