CPI, JD-S reject CPI-M demand for Ponnani and Kozhikode seats

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 12 (ANI): The Communist Party of India (CPI) and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) have rejected the Communist Party of India (Marxist) demand for the Ponnani and Kozhikode seats in Orissa.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) liaison committee meeting here today failed to make any headway in the seat sharing talks.

While the CPI has expressed its interest to contest from Ponnani seat, the CPI-M wants to field a common Independent candidate to win Muslim votes in the India Union Muslim League (IUML) stronghold.

The CPI has also demanded the Kozhikode constituency, where the Janata Dal (S) had won last time.

As the seat-sharing issue remains unresolved, both parties have threatened to take tough action.

In Ponnani, the CPI and CPI-M remained adamant on their respective stands, as both declared their Independent candidates separately and put up poll advertisements carrying their pictures.

Similarly, in Kozhikode, the CPI-M rejected the JD-S stand and has started campaigning.

Leaders of both parties are scheduled to meet here later in the day. (ANI)