UDF gives lone RS seat to IUML

With the Congress (I) conceding its lone seat to the League, the party would be without a Rajya Sabha member from the state.

The decision to concede the seat to the League was taken after the AICC (I) general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is incharge of Kerala affairs, had held discussions which went on till late last night, with Karunakaran at his daughter’s residence here. But yesterday, Azad and Karunakaran refused to tell the press about the outcome of their discussions.

On why Congress(I) was not contesting the lone seat, Karunakaran said IUML was a UDF ally and a friend for long and this had tilted the balance in favour of the league. He said no Congress leader had staked claim for the Rajya Sabha seat.

Replying to a query, he said in the UDF, there was no big or small partner. "We will treat all front partners as equals and allot seats taking into consideration their needs," he said.

Karunakaran admitted that even though a section of the Congressmen were unhappy with the decision, the party had decided to give the seat to League taking into consideration their relationship.