Despite the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) efforts to project unity and regain its footing in Kottayam, seat-sharing talks within the Congress-led coalition have hit a sudden roadblock with the Kerala Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) standing firm on their respective demands for more seats.
The Congress district leadership during the initial phase of coalition talks had informed the (Joseph faction) that its allocation of district panchayat divisions will be reduced this time. However, the regional party remains steadfast in its demand to retain the same number of divisions as in the previous election. Adding to the Congress’s headache, the Muslim League has also expressed interest in contesting a seat in the district panchayat this time.
In the 2020 elections, out of the 22 district panchayat divisions, the Congress contested 14 while the Kerala Congress fielded candidates in eight. Following delimitation, the number of divisions has increased to 23 with the addition of the Thalanadu division. The Congress leadership believes that the Kerala Congress (Joseph faction) has lost its strength in the district and has struggled to secure victories in several seats. Consequently, there is a growing demand within the Congress to reclaim at least four divisions from the Kerala Congress.
“Of the eight divisions allocated to them in the previous election, they managed to win only two. If the same allocation is repeated, it will be difficult for us to secure control of the district panchayat,” said a senior Congress leader.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Kerala Congress have asserted their right to retain all eight seats they contested last time. The faction has already staked claim to nine seats but is reportedly willing to negotiate down to eight. They have also requested swapping the Velloor seat for Thalayazham. But the Congress has rejected this proposal.
“In the previous election, we were allotted nine seats, but the Congress took back the Vaikom seat at the last moment. This time, we can’t agree to any such adjustments,” said a top Kerala Congress leader.
The Muslim League has claimed the Mundakayam seat, citing an assurance allegedly given by the Congress during the previous election that the seat would be allocated to them this time. However, the Congress considers Mundakayam a strategically significant division as it is the only general seat in the eastern region, while all others are reserved for women or Scheduled Caste candidates. In this context, the IUML is now likely to stake claim for the Erumeli seat instead.
The Congress leadership, however, is also wary that allocating a seat to the IUML for he first time in the eastern region could have repercussions among Catholic voters.
Congress-IUML meet
The Congress has scheduled a meeting with the Muslim League on Sunday and with the Kerala Congress on November 10. The UDF leadership aims to complete all seat-sharing discussions at the grama panchayat and municipality levels by November 10, before moving on to the block panchayat level.
Meanwhile, within the LDF, the Kerala Congress (M) remains firm on its demand for ten seats in the district panchayat. In the previous elections, both the CPI(M) and the KC(M) had contested nine seats each, while the CPI fielded candidates in four.
The regional party is also insisting that all its candidates contest under its own symbol, the ‘Two Leaves’. According to sources, the KC(M) is not in favour of a proposal by the CPI(M) to field a joint independent candidate in one seat.
At the same time, the CPI has not agreed to the Kerala Congress (M)’s demand for a mutual exchange of one seat. If the disputes remain unresolved at the district level, they are expected to be taken up at the State level for a final settlement.
Published – November 08, 2025 08:03 pm IST
