Date:27/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/27/stories/2008072758470600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Political vacuum in State: CPI leader

Staff Reporter

Puvvada says party not interested in Chief Minister’s chair

KHAMMAM: Senior Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Puvvada Nageswara Rao said here on Saturday that there was apparently some political vacuum in the State and hence people were looking forward to the emergence of a reliable alternative to the Congress.

Speaking to media persons along with party district secretary K. Sambhasiva Rao and a host of other leaders, he said that the proposed launch of a new political party by film star Chiranjeevi at this juncture was a welcome development.

Delicate issue

Asked whether his party would opt for the new political entity of Chiranjeevi or the Telugu Desam for an electoral understanding, he said it was too “delicate an issue for us to choose between the two at this juncture.” “We know there is only one chair (the Chief Minister’s) “for which both the parties would be contending in the State.

So far as the CPI was concerned it was not in the fray for the big chair. It should only decide on the party it should to support.

He stated that the party’s stand on this issue would be clear after the State executive meeting at Warangal on July 31 and August 1. The CPI would study the stand of the new party in respect of the various issues that were before people. At the same time, the TDP could be wished away as it had already emerged a key player at the national level during the UPA trust vote.

The CPI ceased to be a friend of the Congress in the State for all purposes. The party would now focus its attention on uniting all the parties fighting the Congress.