CPI to focus on ''Hindi heartland'':Bardhan

Hyderabad, Mar 21 (UNI) The Communist Party of India(CPI) would chalk out strategies at its 20th National Congress, beginning here on March 23, to strengthen the party in the ''Hindi heartland''.

Talking to newspersons here, ahead of the party Congress, CPI National General Secretary A B Bardhan said, ''it is imperative for the party to spread to the Hindi belt, without which, the party cannot play an effective role in national politics.'' Mr Bardhan said the party Congress would work out ways to strengthen it in the Hindi heartland. At the same time, the party would concentrate on further consolidation in its strongholds like West Bengal and Kerala, he added.

It may be noted that the CPI, which once had some presence in Hindi heartland like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar earlier, had gradually lost ground, following the emergence of regional parties like the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal.

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