Kozhikode, 08 March (H.S.): Indicating that tensions between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the CPI(M) may intensify ahead of the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, the state leadership meeting of the RJD held in Kozhikode on Saturday decided to firmly maintain its demand for three additional Assembly seats within the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

The party currently contests three constituencies as part of the LDF arrangement — Koothuparamba, Vadakara and Kalpetta. However, the RJD leadership has now demanded that the CPI(M)-led front allocate three more constituencies — Koduvally, Kovalam and Chalakudy — to the party in the upcoming Assembly elections.

The demand, if accepted, would increase the RJD’s tally to six seats, a move the party believes is necessary to strengthen its organisational presence and electoral prospects in the state.

Speculation about the party’s growing discontent within the LDF resurfaced recently after the RJD’s Kozhikode district committee publicly blamed the CPI(M) for the defeat of its candidates in several wards during the recent local body elections. Following these allegations, the CPI(M) reportedly initiated reconciliation discussions with RJD leaders to prevent further escalation of tensions.

Despite these efforts, RJD leaders say there has been little progress in resolving their concerns. Party State General Secretary Varghese George said the CPI(M) had so far not shown willingness to consider the demand for additional seats.

He said the party expects the CPI(M) to honour an earlier assurance reportedly given by former State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that the RJD would be allocated more seats in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Sources familiar with the discussions said the CPI(M) had suggested that the RJD relinquish the Kalpetta seat if it wished to contest from Koduvally. However, RJD leaders strongly rejected the proposal, insisting that the party should not be forced to give up an existing constituency to secure a new one.

The friction between the two parties has also been reflected at the grassroots level. The RJD’s North and South mandalam committees in Kozhikode recently informed the party’s state leadership that they were unwilling to cooperate with the LDF in the coming elections.

Local leaders have alleged that sections of the CPI(M)’s local leadership actively worked against RJD candidates in the Nadakkavu, Moonnalingal and Mavoor Road wards of the Kozhikode Corporation during the recent civic polls.

In the last Assembly elections, the RJD contested three seats but managed to win only Koothuparamba, where K. P. Mohanan secured victory. Senior leader M. V. Sreyams Kumar was defeated in Kalpetta by Congress leader T. Siddique by a margin of 5,470 votes.

Party leaders say dissatisfaction has been building for months, with the RJD complaining that it has not received adequate representation within the LDF. They point out that when the party was previously part of the United Democratic Front (UDF), it was allotted seven Assembly seats along with a Rajya Sabha seat.

Although Sreyams Kumar later served in the Rajya Sabha after the RJD joined the LDF, the seat was not retained after the completion of his tenure.

The party’s sense of grievance was further intensified when it was denied a ministerial berth in the state Cabinet, even though several other LDF allies with just one MLA each were accommodated in the ministry.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman