Cong Chief calls on CPI-M Secretary

Hyderabad, Apr 14 (UNI) In an effort to come closer to the Marxists ahead of the next Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, state Congress Committee Chief D Srinivas today called on Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) state Secretary B V Raghavulu and discussed the 'political situation' in the state.

Mr Srinivas met him at the CPI-M state headquarters here and discussed various matters for one and a half hours.

Talking to newspersons later, he described the meeting as a 'courtesy call'. ''It is purely a courtesy call. Mr Raghavulu is my friend and both Congress and CPI-M fought the elections together in the 2004 Assembly elections.'' Asked whether they had discussed about the possible alliance in view of the elections in 2009, he said any alliance between the political parties would emerge only three to four months before the elections. ''We have not discussed anything about the alliance at present.'' He said though the Congress and the Left parties had different opinions on some issues, the Left parties were supporting the UPA Government at the Centre to keep some parties out of power.

Describing Mr Srinivas as a very good friend, Mr Raghavulu said they had a free exchange of views on various issues. ''Politics is different and friendship is different'', he added.

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