For CPI main enemy is BJP, to contest 17 seats in UP

New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) The CPI today declared that it would contest 17 Assembly seats in the seven-phase polls in Uttar Pradesh and it is part of the Jan Morcha alliance to prevent the comeback of the SP and not let the BJP go the " Punjab way" there.

" For us the BJP is number one enemy even as we will strive for defeat and removal of the Mulayam Singh government's misrule," CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said after the conclusion of the Party two-day National Executive meet here.

At a press conference, Mr Bardhan, flanked by party leaders D Raja and Atul Kumar Anjan said four to five more seats were being negotiated." We will shortly make an announcment on this." Replying to a volley of questions on the possibility of the Congress, joining the Jan Morcha Alliance, comprising VP Singh's Jan Morcha, the CPI, LJP, Indian Justice Party and other smaller parties, the CPI veteran said while talks for seat adjustments were going on with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh, the efforts were also being made to rope in more like minded parties.

The CPI veteran said the Congress had yet not finalised the number of seats it wanted to contest, from where and the candidates." Only then the final picture will become clearer." On CPI's efforts for the Fourth Front which is essentially anti- BJP, anti-BSP and anti- SP, Mr Bardhan said, " it is true that the Congress is not part of it for the time being but efforts are being made to bring it into the grouping. The CPI(M) is also not its partner, the CPI(M-L)which was earlier supposed to be its partner, has now decided to go it alone. But the attempt is worth it." Elaborating, the CPI leaders foresaw the possibility of a hung House in UP with none of the political parties being able to win 200 seats on their own." Even last time the SP won 135 seats and the BSP only 109 seats." In reply to a specific query whether the CPI considered the SP as being the' number one enemy party,' Mr Bardhan was at pains to explain, saying" it is not the case. But only secular credentials of a party is not sufficient. Other things- the law and order, the development, communal situation among others have also to be taken into account." " For example we don't consider the Telegu Desam party( TDP) as a communal party, but for quite long time we have not aligned with them for electoral purposes," he said.

Replying to a specific query about the CPI(M) going independently in UP polls, the CPI leader said while they were together in Punjab and more or less in Uttarakhand also, but this could not happen for UP polls." But we have an understanding that we will not clash with each other in any seat." The CPI(M) is fielding as many as 16 candidates seeking support from the secular parties.

The CPI leaders denied that the party's anti-SP stance would ultimately help the BJP.

UNI