CPI eyes more seats in Assembly polls

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 21. The Communist Party of India (CPI) hopes to have greater share of seats in the Assembly elections in four States.

The CPI, part of the Left Front in West Bengal and the Left Democratic Front in Kerala, feels that it can field more candidates in relation to the strength it has acquired since the last elections in 1996. Among the four States where elections are likely to be held in the next two months, the CPI has a stake in West Bengal, Kerala and Assam, where the party has representatives in the Governments. In West Bengal, the CPI was among the last of the outfits to join the alliance. In the 1996 Assembly polls, it had won 12 seats. The CPI-M, which leads the Front, contested from 208 and won 150.

In Kerala, the CPI-M state committee has shortlisted its candidates and a final list was expected after receiving comments from the district committees on 20 to 25 seats. The CPI has 18 MLAs in the present House having contested from 24 constituencies in the last elections. In Tamil Nadu, both the CPI-M and the CPI have an understanding with the AIADMK while in Assam, the parties would have electoral adjustment with the Asom Gana Parishad.

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