Election mode: LDF to begin seat sharing talks on February 4

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Foreseeing that the notification for the general election will be issued in March first week, the CPM state committee on Saturday decided to launch preparatory works for the polls. As a first step, the CPM leadership will initiate discussions with the other LDF partners on seat sharing from Monday. The party is looking at finalizing the nitty-gritties of seat sharing arrangement within LDF fold by February 11 when its state committee meets.

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said LDF's election campaign will formally be launched on March 2 in Thrissur. The two rallies to be undertaken by CPM and CPI secretaries from the northern and southern ends of the state will converge in Thrissur on March 2.

National leaders of all LDF allies are likely to attend the meet, which will be the first official campaign programme of the LDF. The Southern leg of the rally, titled 'Kerala Samrakshna Yathra' will begin from Thiruvananthapuram on February 14 and will be led by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran will lead the northern leg of the rally, which will begin from Kasaragod on Feb 16.

Balakrishnan said on Saturday the state unit of the CPM has been gearing up for the general elections. He dismissed the findings of recent opinion polls that predicted impressive win for the UDF in Kerala. "The survey reports need not be taken seriously. Even in 2004 when the LDF swept 18 seats, the survey reports were against the front. There are strong sentiments against the BJP all over the country and that will reflect in the election," said Kodiyeri. He said the CPM has been conducting a survey of its own and the findings so far are very positive. When asked about the candidates for the poll, Kodiyeri said discussions were not held.

A series of budget seminar has also been planned by the CPM in the state next March. Each district will host a seminar in which the advantages of LDF government's budget and the denial of basic needs of the state by the Union government in its budget will be highlighted.

The first seminar will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on March 5 and will be inaugurated by CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Finance minister Thomas Isaac and planning board vice chairman V K Ramachandran will attend the seminar.

The CPM state committee has also decided to reorganize party control commission. M Vijayakumar, K V Abdul Khader and Panoli Valson have been included as new members of the control commission. They will replace late E Kasim, M M Varghese and T Krishnan. K K Lathika and M T Joseph are the other members of the commission. Vijayakumar will be the new chairman of the control commission.