Won't have any understanding with Congress in WB polls: CPI

Hyderabad, Mar 8: Striking a discordant note, CPI on Tuesday said it would be a part of the Left Front in West Bengal, but would have no understanding with Congress in the state assembly elections.

"As far as we are concerned, we are part of the Left Front (in West Bengal) and we are not having any adjustment with Congress. We have no discussions. As per our knowledge, discussions have not taken place between Left Front and Congress," CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy told reporters here.

He was replying to a query on Left Front chairman Biman Bose announcing yesterday that they have reached an "understanding" with Congress to fight jointly against ruling Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal elections beginning next month.

Announcing the names of 116 candidates out of a total 294 seats, Bose had said, we have welcomed an understanding with Congress to remove Trinamool from the state.

Front, alliance and understanding are not the same thing. "Such news reports (understanding between Left and Congress) came earlier and today," Reddy said.

Asked if CPI would accept if the CPI(M) went ahead with the understanding with the Congress, he said, "We (CPI) are contesting as part of Left Front. Naturally, we have no alliance with Congress in any seat. We don't support Congress in any seat. We don't expect Congress to support us".

CPI has decided contest 16 seats in West Bengal, he said. In Kerala, CPI decided to contest in 29 or 30 assembly segments, Reddy said. The final understanding among the LDF partners would be announced in a couple of days in Kerala. Claiming that the ruling UDF got "defamed", he felt that the LDF's chances to win are bright.

The alliance in Tamil Nadu comprising CPI, CPI(M), MDMK and VCK has got encouraging response, Reddy said, adding that more parties would join the coalition.

CPI has identified 65 constituencies to contest in Tamil Nadu but is ready to adjust for the sake of friendly parties. Except SUCI, all other Left parties have decided to fight together in Assam assembly polls, in which CPI would contest in 18 constituencies.

PTI