At an LDF state committee meeting here on Sunday, both RSP and NCP conceded to CPM's demand. The two parties also decided to continue in the CPM-led ruling coalition. LDF convener and CPM politburo member VS Achuthanandan officially announced the ruling front's candidates for Kollam and Kannur, at a press conference, immediately after the meeting.

The candidates are P Rajendran AP Abdulla Kutty, both of CPM, for the two seats respectively.

He said that RSP and NCP had agreed to the CPM proposal as they were both keen to ensure the defeat of Congress candidates in these constituencies. Achuthandan disclosed that the Moovattupuzha seat was offered to NCP instead of Kannur whichthey had demanded. But Moovattupuzha was not acceptable to them.

Now that CPM has been allotted two more seats, the total number of seats contested by the party's official candidates in the 20 seat state has risen to 13. CPI has been allotted four seats, Janata Dal (S) and Kerala Congress (Joseph) one each.