TAMIL NADU - CPI and CPI (M) to contest two seats each in the by-elections

JOINT MOVES: (From left) R. Nallakannu, CPI leader;
D. Pandian, CPI State secretary;
and N. Varadarajan, CPI (M) State secretary,
addressing presspersons in Tiruchi on Friday.

TIRUCHI: The CPI and the CPI (M) on Friday decided to contest the by-elections to the Assembly, taking two seats each and leaving one to a “friendly” party, even as they requested the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to reconsider its decision to boycott the polls.

The CPI will shortly announce its candidates for the Bargur and Srivaikundam constituencies and the CPI (M) for Thondamuthur and Cumbum.

In case the “friendly” party backs out, one of the two parties will contest the Ilayangudi seat, according to the leaders of the parties. Both parties were prepared for talks on the seats if the AIADMK decides to contest the polls.

Addressing presspersons at the end of the State Committee meetings of their parties, the State secretaries of the CPI and the CPI (M), D. Pandian and N. Varadarajan, maintained that their decision to contest the polls would not cause any problem for the non-Congress, non-BJP alliance in the State.

Though the reasons cited by the AIADMK – misuse of power and perpetration of rowdyism by the ruling party to ensure victory in the parliamentary elections – for boycotting the polls still persists, “we reckon that the situation must be countered politically,” Mr. Varadarajan said.

Mr. Pandian pointed out that boycotting elections would mean letting those misusing democracy go scot-free.

(the Hindu)