TDP and CPI(M) for joint-action against oil price hike

Hyderabad, June 7 (UNI) The CPI(M) and the TDP, which had parted company six years ago have decided to join together to fight against the recent hike in petroleum and diesel prices.

According to TDP sources, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat had called up the TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and sought his party's cooperation to fight against the price hike of petroleum products.

Mr Karat had explained to Naidu their opposition to the recent price hike by the UPA government and his party's need to put up a fight against the hike with like-minded parties, the sources added.

The TDP and the Communists who were allies parted company six years ago when the former chose to ally with the BJP.

Now with the TDP departing ties with the BJP after its electoral debacle in 2004, the Communists are now trying to forge an alliance with the TDP.

Sources added Mr Karat had talked to Mr Naidu about a broader alliance to form a third front at the national level. He told Naidu that he had already been in touch with leaders of the AGP, Janatadal (U) and BJD about the third front.

Mr Naidu who was trying to forge a third front had positively responded to the proposal of Mr Karat.

The TDP leader had also spoken to the CPI(M) State Secretary and Polit Buro member B V Raghavulu about stagging a united fight against the ''anti-people policies'' of the UPA government.

UNI JRK AJ PA VV1735