CPI not to contest, to support TDP, TRS

HYDERABAD: CPI state secretary K Narayana on Friday announced that his party would not contest the ensuing byelections to be held in 18 Assembly seats and one Parliament seat in the state.  However, he said the CPI would extend its support to TDP and the TRS in Parakala. Admitting that differences existed between the Left parties,  Narayana said  the decision would not affect the unity and relations of Left parties.It may be recalled that CPM state secretary BV Raghavulu has declared that there will be no electoral adjustment with the TDP in the bypolls. This will stand good even in 2014 elections, he added.However, CPI said the strategy for 2014 elections would be worked out before the elections. “The Left parties in the state were not strong enough to contest the elections on their own,” Narayana said and declared that the CPI would not contest the bypolls.  The CPM on the other hand was contemplating to field its candidates in at least five Assembly segments in the state.TRS MLA T Harish Rao welcomed the CPI’s decision to support TRS candidate in Parakala. He hoped that TRS would win Parakala unlike Mahabubnagar Assembly seat, where it lost  narrowly to BJP in the recent bypolls. TDP camp too is elated over CPI’s decision.Narayana said CPI is in favour of separate Telangana state and hence decided to support TRS.  It also wanted to dethrone the corrupt Congress and so decided to extend support to TDP in Seemandhra region.