CPI likely to tie up with TDP for polls

Hyderabad, Nov 22 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (CPI) in Andhra Pradesh is likely to have an electoral understanding with the main opposition Telugu Desam Party(TDP) for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state.

Even as a section within the party wanted to have poll pact with the Praja Rajyam Party floated by actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, the party's central leadership was of the view that an understanding with the TDP, a constituent of then United Front, would be better to build a formidable third alternative at the national level to the fronts led by the Congress and the BJP, party sources said.

Initiating the discussion at the state-committee meeting, CPI National General Secretary A B Bardhan, while underlining the need to maintain Left unity and a common stand on tie-up for the polls, gave enough indications that the party was ready for a tie with TDP, which had been an ally of the Left parties for long, before parting ways to support the erstwhile BJP-led National Democratic Alliance(NDA) Government.

In an oblique reference to the TDP, he said, ''we are ready to join hands with those parties, which have been with us in the past but had committed a mistake later by parting ways with us.'' ''They have realised it and want to join hands with us again,'' he added.

The CPI(M) has already made up its mind to tie up with the TDP.

The Left parties, after parting ways with the Congress over the Indo-US nuclear deal issue, took up joint stirs along with other opposition parties, including the TDP, against it.

They are also gearing up to launch joint agitations, demanding reduction in prices of petroleum products in the wake of drastic fall in crude oil prices in the international market.

Earlier, CPI State Secretary K Narayana, talking to reporters, dismissed as ''media speculation'' reports that the CPI state unit was for an alliance with the Praja Rajyam Party(PRP). ''We have reported to the Central leadership on the present political situation in the state. We will abide by whatever decision the party high command takes on ties,'' he added.

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