Seat denial in bank polls: Tension grows in CPM-KC(M) alliance

Kottayam: After the CPM allegedly snubbed Kerala Congress (M) in the cooperative bank elections in latter's strongholds in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts, tension is brewing in their alliance. Though KC(M) brass has kept mum, party workers are fuming at the local level and have decided to stay away from LDF meetings. The development is likely to impact local body polls as well.
Though KC(M) had asked for two seats in the Panachikkad (Kottayam) cooperative bank elections, CPM refused it.The party informed KC(M)'s district brass that Panachikkad was not its stronghold.
Following unilateral decisions, CPM denied seats to KC(M) in Karapuzha and Kumaranalloor cooperative bank elections too. As a protest, KC(M) mandalam committee met on Monday and decided not to cooperate with the LDF hereafter. They complained that the KC(M) included CPM candidates in their panel in the elections to the banks which they had ruled with a comfortable majority.
KC(M) local functionaries said UDF used to have a different approach. They are also apprehensive about the stand the CPM would take in the local body elections, to be held within a year. If the situation continues in the same way, they want to ask the KC(M) brass about their continuing in the LDF.