Date:03/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/03/stories/2008080360460500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

CPI has reservations on tie-up with TDP: Narayana

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The State unit of Communist Party of India (CPI) has reservations about forging an alliance with the Telugu Desam, but will abide by the decision of the national leadership.

This was stated by CPI State secretary K. Narayana at a press conference here on Saturday. He said the CPI’s reservations on alliance with the TDP owed to the infamous firing at Basheerbagh on Left parties’ supporters when the latter led the government in 1999.

However, the CPI could not ignore the fact that the TDP was among the ten parties which voted against the confidence vote taken by the UPA government recently. In this background, the State unit would leave the decision on alliance with TDP to the national leadership, he added.

Mr. Narayana said the meeting of the State council of CPI at Warangal in the last two days assessed the prospects of the party in the next elections. It came to light in the deliberations that the CPI could influence results in 120 Assembly seats, play a decisive role in 80 seats and was in a strong position in 40 to 45 Assembly and five to six Parliamentary constituencies.

While keeping open the options on alliances at the State-level, the meeting felt there was no need for tie-ups in Telangana since all parties without exception expressed support for Statehood to the region.