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The minor partners in the CPM-led Left Democratic Front-CPI, Congress-S, RSP and others-have always been the target of CPM hegemony and big-brother attitude. In the past years, cadres of the CPI have been made physical targets by Marxist goons in several parts of Kerala. The CPI even raised a voluntary armed force to protect itself from Marxist attacks.
The aim of the CPM is basically to gobble up these small parties and expand its own base and influence. The CPM has its base in Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur. Similarly, RSP has its base in Quilon district and Congress-S in Cannanore district. Normally, the Quilon and Cannanore Lok Sabha seats were allotted to these two parties. Now, since the last Lok Sabha polls, these two seats have been cornered by the CPM. The CPM also tried utmost to wrest Thiruvananthapuram seat from the CPI by putting the contention that it was not capable of taking on the Union Minister of State for Defence and BJP stalwart O. Rajagopal, who is contesting from Thiruvananthapuram. The CPI had to bring in its former Chief Minister, P.K. Vasudevan Nair (a reluctant candidate), to retain the seat.
But totally contrary to the above stand, the CPM allotted the Idukki seat to the Christian-dominated Kerala Congress (Joseph) to appease the Christian voters in other constituencies of Kerala.
