CPI to support BSP for greater cause of Left unity

New Delhi, Nov 2 (UNI) Keeping in mind the necessity of a ''united stand'' to usher in a Left-Democratic alternative, the CPI today endorsed big brother CPI(M)'s position on supporting the BSP candidates from constituences where the Left and the JD(S) are not contesting in the Assembly polls.

''We will support the BSP candidates where there are no Left and JD(S) candidates in the Assembly polls with a view to defeat both the Congress and the BJP,'' said CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan here.

Earlier, the CPI had virtually turned down the CPI(M)'s call to its cadres in the national capital to extend general support to the BSP candidates where the Left and the JD(S) candidates are not contesting. It pleaded that a ''blanket support'' could not be given to the BSP candidates as secular credentials and winnability of the condidates should be the main criterion.

At a press conference, Mr Bardhan, flanked by party Deputy General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy and senior leader Atul Kumar Anjan, said the Left parties, mainly the CPI(M) and his party would adopt a common approach on electoral alliances in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu for the Lok Sabha elections.

Mr Bardhan said though his party had not entered into any electoral adjustment with the BSP, but it would support its candidates for the greater cause. ''We are also supporting some regional outfits in Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh,'' he said.

When reminded about the CPI(M) decision to choose TDP as its electoral partner in AP, Mr Bardhan brushed aside the question on the plea that he is not in the habit of talking ''through the media''. He was asked about his party's preference for Mr Chandrababu Naidu or Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajaym party.

Mr Bardhan, the veteran communist and freedom fighter, said diplomatically that new forces had emerged in both AP and TN. ''We have held discussions with our state leadership and the leadership of the concerned parties. We will shortly take a united postion.'' UNI KSA RP CS1737