Kerala: Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi hits out at UDF over seat denial

Kochi: A faction of Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS) led by A N Rajan Babu has openly expressed resentment towards UDF leadership, alleging the party has been overlooked within the alliance. The friction comes in the wake of seat-sharing negotiations as JSS claimed it was unfairly denied its rightful share of seats.In a statement, Babu asserted that as a constituent partner of UDF, demanding a minimum number of seats was a fundamental political right. He characterized the current exclusion as an act that undermines the unity and spirit of ‘team UDF'. The party leadership has demanded an immediate clarification from UDF officials regarding the criteria used to sideline them. A central point of contention raised by JSS was whether their vocal advocacy for the politics of social justice has led to its marginalization. The party questioned if UDF's top brass was intentionally distancing itself from groups that prioritize the representation of marginalized communities in the seat-sharing process. An emergency state committee meeting has been scheduled in Kochi on Thursday to decide on the future of their alliance with UDF. JSS, founded by late K R Gowri in 1994 after her expulsion from CPM, has been through several splits. The first major rift occurred around 2014-16 when Gowri sought to return to LDF. Babu, however, remained a staunch advocate for staying with UDF. After a brief stint with BJP-led NDA in 2016, Babu eventually returned to the mainstream JSS fold as general secretary in 2021.