CPI(M), CPI in talks to resolve deadlock over seat-sharing in Thrikkakara

The Ernakulam district leaderships of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Communist Party of India (CPI) have said that efforts are on to resolve the deadlock over two seats in the election to Thrikkakara municipality.

S. Sathish, CPI(M) district secretary, said on Wednesday that such issues would be resolved through discussions at the regional level. N. Arun, Ernakulam district secretary of the CPI, said that discussions were progressing with the CPI(M) to resolve differences amicably.

The differences had emerged after the CPI insisted on contesting the Health Centre and Sahakarana Road wards, claiming that they fell within its sphere of influence. The party had claimed that a majority of votes in the Athani ward — considered its traditional stronghold — had been shifted to the Health Centre ward following delimitation.

The CPI had also staked its claim for Sahakarana Road, which subsumed the Mampillyparambu ward following delimitation. The party claimed that its entire vote base from the now-defunct ward had been added to Sahakarana Road, giving it the right to field its candidate there.