CPI-ML to contest 15 constituencies in TN polls; no to PWF

Coimbatore, Mar 15: CPI-ML on Tuesday said it would go alone in 15 constituencies for the May 16 Assembly polls and not join the four party Vaiko-led People's Welfare Front as he had joined hands with BJP in the last Lok Sabha elections.

"CPI(ML) will field candidates in 15 constituencies for the May 16 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. We have decided not to join People Welfare Front, as its convenor Vaiko had joined hands with BJP in the last Lok Sabha polls," party general secretary, Deepankar Bhattacharya told reporters here.

Two of the 15 candidates would be fielded in Koundapalayam and Mettupalayam constituencies in Coimbatore, he said. Bhattacharya said the party's main aim would be to defeat major parties like AIADMK, DMK, BJP, and Congress and would urge voters not to entertain parties like PMK and DMDK.

He said CPI(ML) is fighting elections in eight constituencies in Assam and 36 in West Bengal as part of the Left Party alliance.

Bhattacharya, who is here to attend the party's two-day State Committee meeting, condemned the murder of Dalit youth Shankar in Udumalpet two days ago and demanded a separate law against honour killings and also to protect those who go for inter-caste marriage.

Progressive parties and organisations should raise their voice against such dastardly crimes against dalits, he said.

The party is organising 'Save Democracy, Save India' campaign from March 23, the day freedom fighter Bhagat Singh was hanged by the British, to April 14, the 125th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, Deepankar said.

PTI