CPI rejects CPM choice for Ponnani

Cracks appear to be broadening in the ruling Left Democratic Front in Kerala with the CPI refusing on Thursday to accept big brother CPI(M)’s choice of Independent candidate for the Ponnani Lok Sabha seat. While the CPI(M) reiterated that the candidate would be a “widely-accepted independent”,the CPI said it would field its own man from the seat,currently held by E Ahamed,Minister of State for External Affairs. A final decision has been delayed.

The CPI(M) proposed to field Prof Hussain Randathani,also backed by Abdul Nasser Madani,whose outfit People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has a support base in the constituency.

But CPI was not willing to play along. The party executive committee,which met in the morning,felt that the choice of the candidate gave an impression that the CPI has succumbed to the pressure tactics of Madani. A few hours later,CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said: “We would decide the candidate for Ponnani.” Soon,Madani upped the ante saying his party would field a candidate,if the CPI fielded its own candidate.