Thiruvananthapuram | Amid an ongoing war of words between leaders of CPI and CPI(M) over the deputy LoP post in the Keralam Assembly, LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan on Friday urged leaders to exercise restraint in their public statements and said the issue would be resolved through discussions.

Problems should be resolved through discussions and efforts in that direction are continuing, Ramakrishnan told reporters here while responding to a question.

He said former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's statement that the deputy opposition leader's post would go to a CPI(M) leader was based on an earlier decision.

Asked about the CPI(M)'s stand on the issue, Ramakrishnan said it should be articulated by the party's state secretary.

"There will be differences of opinion on several matters within the front. Such issues will be discussed collectively and resolved," he said.

The remarks came amid a public spat between the two major LDF constituents over the CPI's demand for the deputy LoP post.

The CPI, the second-largest constituent of the LDF, had on Tuesday criticised Vijayan for rejecting its demand, accusing him of violating coalition norms and undermining the alliance.

Last week, Vijayan had rejected the CPI's demand for the deputy LoP post, saying the position would go to a CPI(M) leader.

He had said appointing a deputy LoP only required him to send a letter to the Assembly Speaker and that there was no doubt that the name recommended by him would be that of a CPI(M) leader.

CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam had strongly criticised Vijayan's remarks, saying they were unbecoming of the position he held.

"No leader has the right to put a price on the CPI's pride. This is a matter of dispute and has been kept aside for discussions between the two parties," Viswam had said.

In an article in the party mouthpiece Janayugam, senior CPI leader Sathyan Mokeri termed Vijayan's remarks a "complete violation of coalition etiquette" and said they reflected a lack of political ethics expected in alliance politics.

Mokeri said the CPI had sought the deputy LoP post as part of efforts to strengthen the collective functioning of the LDF following its heavy defeat in the recent Assembly elections.

CPI(M) leader and former minister V Sivankutty, however, hit back at the CPI and Mokeri, saying airing differences within the alliance through the media was against political etiquette.

Sivankutty defended Vijayan's stand as "completely democratic" and based on practical political considerations. He also accused the CPI of insulting the Leader of Opposition through the article.

Sivankutty also alleged that the CPI's opposition was baseless and aimed personally at Vijayan.