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Nayanar, five CPI-M ministers left out for assembly poll

Chief Minister E K Nayanar, Finance Minister T Sivadasa Menon and four other veterans do not find place in the list of Communist Party of India-Marxist candidates for the Kerala assembly poll as the ruling Marxist-led Left Democratic Front stole a march over Congress-led United Democratic Front by finalising seat-sharing and announcing candidates.

In its list of candidates, the CPI-M provided a safe seat for party strongman V S Achuthanandan, while leaving out incumbent Nayanar and five of his ministerial party colleagues, including veteran trade union leader and Industry Minister Susheela Gopalan.

The CPI left out senior party leader and Food Minister E Chandrasekheran Nair and the RSP re-nominated Irrigation Minister V P Ramakrishna Pillai.

Even as UDF partners were wrangling over seat allocation, the LDF reached an accord on seat sharing among its partners and the CPI-M, CPI and RSP announced their candidates.

While Congress, the major partner of UDF, was holding bilateral talks with its allies, UDF sources said it would take at least two more days before seat sharing could be finalised. AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad was present at the bilateral talks during the two days.

Even if the Congress reaches an understanding with its partners on seat sharing, it would take some time for an amicable settlement between different groups.

At present, there are two major factions in the Congress -- one owing allegiance to senior party leader K Karunakaran and the other supporting opposition leader and CWC member A K Antony.

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