Overview
- After a steering committee meeting in Kottayam, party leaders confirmed they will continue in the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front.
- The party will seek to contest a minimum of 13 Assembly seats in the upcoming election, signaling a firmer seat-sharing stance than in 2021.
- Jose K Mani denied any talks with UDF leaders and said there was no communication from Sonia Gandhi.
- Leaders said the meeting reviewed weak local-body election results and rejected claims of church pressure or internal rifts.
- LDF figures, including convener T P Ramakrishnan and CPI’s Binoy Viswam, welcomed the clarification and downplayed earlier speculation.