THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The UDF meeting today will be held amidst the controversy within the Congress following the appointment of the DCC presidents and the unrest within the Muslim League. The meeting is at 2.30 pm.

Opposition leader VD Satheesan met Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala, who had raised their voices in protest, to avoid any inconvenience during today's meeting. It was also necessary to ensure that both leaders are present at the front meeting. The leadership is convinced that the absence of both permanent members will weaken the Front.

The UDF leadership has scheduled a bilateral meeting with the RSP leadership this morning to persuade them. The RSP state committee decided to withdraw from the tough decision to boycott the meeting as the front leadership was ready to listen to them.

The High Command is deeply dissatisfied with the escalation of controversy in the wake of the Congress' move to energize after a major setback in the Assembly elections.

The leadership assesses that Oommen Chandy's stalemate will create the impression among the people that there is trouble throughout the party. As the KPCC and DCC reorganize into talks, the state leadership is trying to keep the atmosphere as calm as possible. However, the A and I group leaders are sticking to pressure tactics, both of which are meant to keep the ranks from giving up. AICC General Secretary Tariq Anwar will arrive on Wednesday.

This is the only time the UDF has met since the assembly elections. That too to accept the change of leadership. The election setback could not be discussed in detail. The respective party leaderships are dissatisfied with the way the regional committees which studied the defeat of the Congress criticized the League and the Kerala Congress-Joseph. Dissatisfaction is high within the RSP, which has suffered a complete defeat in two consecutive assembly elections.

No specific agenda has been set for today's meeting. The meeting may decide to end the disputes and activate the Front and intensify the agitation against the government by raising allegations against the police.