TDP welcomes CPI(M)'s third front plans

Hyderabad, Jan 21 (UNI) Welcoming CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat's plans to forge a third front, Telugu Desam Party President and United National Progressive Alliance Convener N Chandrababu Naidu today asserted that the TDP would join hands with like-minded parties, including the Left, to oppose the ''anti-people'' policies of the Congress-led UPA Government and the ''communal'' BJP.

The TDP, along with the Left parties, would hold joint stirs and mount pressure on the UPA Government -- both inside Parliament and outside -- to change its present economic policies, which ''benefitted only the rich and increased the gap between the rich and the poor'', he told reporters here.

''We understand the political compulsions of the Left parties in supporting the UPA Government. At the same time, the Left parties have waged a relentless struggle on several issues, including the Indo-US nuclear deal, resulting in softening of the UPA Government's stand on the issues,'' he added.

''The TDP is not for any short-term electoral gains,'' Mr Naidu claimed, adding that the party was for long-term relations with the Left parties to ensure that the benefits of high economic growth reached the poor.

The party would hold a public meeting in Mumbai on February three to highlight the problems of peasants. This would be followed by meetings at Ranchi and Sonipat, he added.

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