Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 22 (NationPress) The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) is facing challenges in its quest to widen its political influence ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Kerala. This setback comes as Vishnupuram Chandrasekharan, the President of the Kerala Kamaraj Congress, has unequivocally stated that he has no plans to join the UDF as an associate member.

Chandrasekharan's comments followed a meeting led by Kerala's Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, who announced that discussions were underway to include Chandrasekharan's party, along with the Trinamool Congress (Kerala unit) led by former Left Independent legislator P.V. Anvar, and the Janadhipathya Rashtriya Party (JRP) helmed by tribal leader C.K. Janu, into the UDF.

However, Chandrasekharan clarified that he has no intention of forming an alliance with the UDF. He emphasized that, while talks took place with political figures, he has neither applied nor shown formal interest in joining the Congress-led coalition.

"I do not engage in political negotiations for personal gain or positions," he stated, affirming his decade-long association with the NDA. He also highlighted his ideological foundation, noting his background with the RSS and his identity as a lifelong 'swayamsevak'.

Chandrasekharan mentioned that his party maintains a distance from the BJP, a stance decided in a meeting of about 3,000 representatives that has not been altered since. Internal disputes, particularly regarding the utilization of worker votes for other aims, continue within the party; he assured that discussions are ongoing to address these concerns.

Additionally, he noted that Union Minister and Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar has promised to address the existing issues. Satheesan had stated that parties that collaborated with the UDF in the recent local body elections are being considered for associate membership, aiming to bolster the Congress-led UDF's electoral strength.

Although P.V. Anvar provided full support during the recent local body elections, this did not result in political advantages for him. In an effort to amplify the "anti-incumbency" sentiment against the CPI(M)-led LDF government, the UDF plans to conduct a statewide yatra from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram in February, as it gears up for the Assembly elections expected in April/May.