If supported in Bihar,CPI to assist UPA nominee in Koderma bypoll

Ranchi, Oct 17 (UNI) In a quid pro quo, CPI's Jharkhand unit today said it would support UPA nominee Manoj Kumar Yadav in the November 6 by-election to Koderma Parliamentary seat only if the party's candidate in Nalanda is supported by the UPA.

By-election to two seats--Nalanda and Bhagalpur in Bihar--and Koderma in Jharkhand will be held on November 6.

The CPI has fielded Mr Gaya Singh in Nalanda and decided to support CPM candidate Subodh Rai in Bhagalpur.

Talking to newspersons here, party's state secretary and Hazaribagh MP Bhuvneshwar Mehta said it would canvass for the UPA in Koderma if their Nalanda candidate received support from the allies.

Reiterating that the CPI was not part of the UPA at the Centre and its support to the government was based only on a common minimum programme, he said, ''We are extending outside support only to keep the communal BJP out of power.'' Criticising the attitude of the ministers in the UPA-backed Madhu Koda government in the state, Mr Mehta said it would not last for a long time as the ministers were fighting for personal benefit.

He said they would not join any state steering committee formed to monitor functioning of the Koda government. ''We will attend the meeting as individual, not as part of the steering committee,'' he added.

Speaking about the decisions taken in the state council meeting, which began yestrday, Mr Mehta said strengthening the party topped the agenda.

UNI AM-PRS PL DB1552