Seat sharing talks begin in UDF

Thiruvananthapuram: Seat sharing talks in the UDF has begun with leaders meeting here on Wednesday.

It had been generally agreed that all constituents could contest for their sitting seats. The talks will be mainly regarding seats they had not won last time. Minor constituents of the Front have demanded more seats with the Janata Dal (United) demanding as many as 10 seats. Kerala Congress is waiting to demand more seats during bilateral talks.

The Muslim League is demanding the same number of seats as in the last Assembly elections—24.  It had won in 20 of these and the party decided on candidates for many of them on Wednesday. All Ministers except Mr. P. K. Kunhalkutty will contest for their sitting seats.

Mr. Kunhalikutty may move from Vengara to Malappuram constituency and General secretary K. P. A. Majeed may contest from Vengara constituency.

The BJP core committee met here today towards finalisation of their list of candidates. The list is to be cleared by the election committee and Central leadership. There is still no decision on former Union Minister of State O. Rajagopal contesting. If he is not contesting, State president Kummanam Rajesekharan may contest from Nemom constituency.