Date:09/05/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/05/09/stories/2009050959800300.htm

Other States - Himachal Pradesh

CPI (M) to support BSP

Staff Correspondent

SHIMLA: The Communist Party of India (Marxist), which is contesting the Mandi Lok Sabha seat from Himachal Pradesh, has decided to support the Bahujan Samaj Party in the elections for the other three seats from the State.

The State Secretariat of the party in a statement said the move was part of the CPI (M) efforts to install a non-Congress secular government at the Centre.

The party has some pockets of influence in the three Lok Sabha constituencies of Shimla, Kangra and Hamirpur in the hill State. Its district committees have been asked to get in touch with the BSP leadership and campaign along with the party in these constituencies.