CPI M all set to contest LS polls

New Delhi/Hyderabad, Mar 3: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has said the party's powerful central committee would work out the finer details at the weekend ahead of the general elections.

"As far as my party's electoral understanding is concerned, the party's central committee is meeting on Mar 7 and 8, where all the details will be worked out. I cannot precede that central committee meeting to answer these questions," said Sitaram Yechury, a senior CPI (M) leader.

In Andhra Pradesh, the state's man opposition and a constituent of the 'Third Front' Telugu Desam Party (TDP) welcomed the poll announcement.

"We welcome the election commission's announcement. Now code of conduct is coming for political parties and also for the State Government and for the Central Government. Both the State Government and the Central Government have misused the power in the recent past," said TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu.

The elections will be held in five phases on April 16, 23, 30, May 7 and 13, and the new government will take office on June 2.

Five phased polls will be held in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, while Bihar will have a four-phased election.

Maharashtra and West Bengal will witness three phased polls while Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Punjab will have elections in two phases.

The remaining 15 states and seven Union Territories will have one-day polling.

Counting of votes will take place on May 16.

ANI