Date:05/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/05/stories/2007010508661200.htm

National

CPI (M) to contest 15 seats in Uttar Pradesh

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will be "cooperating with the maximum number of secular parties" to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party and "prevent any possibility of its coming to power after the polls" in Uttar Pradesh, general secretary Prakash Karat said here on Thursday.

The CPI (M) had not "decided on any specific tie-up and not taken any decision regarding any alliance with any party," but would "cooperate with those secular parties which can effectively defeat the BJP." The chances of its "going along with the Congress were very remote."

The CPI (M) Central Committee "approved" the decision of the party's State Committee in Uttar Pradesh to contest 15 seats. "The party will seek to project policies, which are in the interests of the working people and for the planned development of Uttar Pradesh."