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CPI-M backs down on RS seat in Kerala

D Jose in Thiruvananthapuram

Bowing under pressure from the Communist Party of India, the CPI-Marxist has withdrawn its candidate for the Rajya Sabha election from Kerala to be held on June 23.

The party, which was adamant on contesting the election, withdrew after a face-saving formula was thrashed out at the Left Democratic Front state committee meeting here Friday. As per the formula, the CPI would vacate the seat after three years and allow the CPI-M to represent it for the next three years. The other seat given to the Revolutionary Socialist Party was also divided to accommodate the Janata Dal.

The decision has apparently kept all LDF constituents in good humour. The Kerala Congress (J) has already had a three-year-term, which ended in May. The remaining three years, which was to go to the RSP as per the original agreement, could now go to the Nationalist Congress Party, which does not have representation in the RS.

LDF convenor V S Achutanandan tried to hide his embarrassment over his party, CPI-M, losing the seat when he met newsmen after the meeting. He described the formula as the best example of the respect the CPI-M has for its allies, whether big or small.

This, he said, is contrary to the situation in the rival Congress-led United Democratic Front, where small parties are suppressed. He said that the spirit of accommodation shown by the CPI-M would demolish the allegation that the party was behaving like a big brother with allies.

However, political circles see the formula as a result of muscle flexing by the CPI and the RSP. The CPI-M was adamant on contesting the seat till its senior leaders left for a politburo meeting in Delhi Wednesday.

Party sources said that the politburo was keen to avert a showdown in view of the crucial local body and assembly elections ahead. The CPI, which showed rare determination in contesting the seat, had the sent the signal that it would pull out its ministers from the state cabinet if the CPI-M stuck to its guns.

The CPI-M was also worried that the UDF camp would contribute its extra votes to any non-CPI-M candidate. In fact, the UDF prolonged its high power committee meeting this morning to know the outcome of the LDF deliberations.

Though the CPI refused help from the UDF, the CPI-M was not willing to take a chance particularly in light of its failure to woo the Indian Union Muslim League.

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