CPI, CPI(M) agree to forge alliance in Telangana ahead of Lok Sabha elections
The CPI and CPI(M) have decided to forge an alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Telangana. According to CPI(M) State secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram, the decision was taken after the leaders of the two Left parties met in Hyderabad on Saturday, where they agreed to contest the Parliamentary elections unitedly.
CPI was a part of the Congress-led alliance, "Prajakutami" (People'sFront), during the assembly elections that were held last year on December 7. The Prajakutami also had the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) as its partners.
The CPI(M) had fought the elections then under the banner "Bahujan Left Front" with several smaller parties.
The CPI has also agreed to include BLF partners in the alliance for the Lok Sabha polls due by May, Veerabhadram said.
Sources in the two Left parties said the CPI already had a discussion with TJS on its inclusion in the alliance. Jana Sena led by actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan or the TDP led by AndhraPradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu are likely to join the alliance, sources claimed.
"CPI is interested to get TDP on board for the Lok Sabha elections, and not Jana Sena. CPI(M)'s view is: better to ally with Pawan Kalyan, and not TDP," they said. CPI and CPI(M) leaders would again meet later this week to discuss issues on alliance, sources said.
(With agency inputs)
