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Journalism of Courage
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has decided to contest from the existing two seats in the Lok Sabha polls after its earlier demand for three seats was turned down by ally Congress. The IUML backtracked from its demand for a third seat after the Congress offered its next Rajya Sabha seat, which would fall vacant, to the party.
Congress-led Opposition leader V D Satheesan said the next Rajya Sabha seat from Kerala, which the Congress could win, would be given to the IUML. The other Rajya Sabha seat, which falls vacant, would then go to the Congress. Whenever the United Democratic Front (UDF) comes to power, the Congress takes three Rajya Sabha seats and IUML two. “When the UDF comes to power, that formula would be maintained,” he said.
The Congress leader confirmed that the IUML wanted a third seat. “We were also keen to accommodate their demand but because of practical difficulties we could not,” he said.
The Congress would contest from 16 seats, IUML from two, Kerala Congress (Joseph) and RSP one seat each in Kerala. In Kollam, the RSP is fielding its sitting MP N K Premachandran for the third time. In Kottayam, allotted to the Kerala Congress (J), former MP Francis George would contest. The Congress has not announced its candidates but it is believed that all sitting MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, would seek mandate from their existing turfs.
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