CPI-M banks on Jayalalithaa

Chennai: All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M) formed an alliance in Tamil Nadu on December 5 for the next Lok Sabha elections.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa held a meeting at latter’s residence and decided to form a strong opposition to jointly fight the General Elections, early next year, in Tamil Nadu.

W. R. Wardharajan, CPI(M) Central Committee member said, “The Central committee has decided to work for defeating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and rejecting Congress in the next General Elections.”

The Communist parties broke the alliance at the Centre with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government after the Congress went ahead with the Nuclear Deal with the Unites States of America.

“The global meltdown, its aftermath and disastrous economic policies are the main focus of the UPA and it is pushing the financial sector,” Wardharajan said. “We work for the people. We are more concerned about their issues,” he added.

The two parties will work out the election tactics state wise. Since CPI(M) has a strong hold in Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura, they will fight both the Congress and the BJP there, Wardharajan said. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are important states for the CPI(M). The tactics for Andhra Pradesh have been worked out and Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI(M) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will coordinate there.

“We have a strong force in these two states (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) and we can successfully fight to win,” he said.

AIADMK had an alliance with BJP in 2004 and 2006. After 2006 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections, the alliance broke. During 2004 to 2006, AIADMK was successful in retrieving its mass base which was eroded in 2004 resulting in its complete rout in Lok Sabha polls. Now there are constant attempts by the BJP to form an alliance with AIADMK again. “AIADMK is not responding to the Right party’s requests,” Warhdharajan said. (AIADMK officials were not available for comment)

“To weaken the BJP from getting a foothold in Tamil Nadu and to take on Congress, CPI(M) - AIADMK alliance is the best choice,” Wardharajan said.

CPI(M) believes that the BJP is reviving its Hindutava plan through the terror blasts for gaining political advantage. The Left party’s effort will be to rally secular democratic parties who are opposed to both BJP and Congress in the states.

Wardharajan said, “We have a regional interest. All parties sharing power at the centre are making compromises with the Congress and the BJP.”

The two newly alligned parties have not yet discussed the constituencies but will soon make evaluation with the proposals.

Broadly, CPI(M) will be focusing on communalism and terrorism, rural distress and global economic meltdown in the coming elections.

Party Workers
On asked whether the party workers of the two parties will be willing to work together, Wardharajan said, “Dialogue with the AIADMK is on to sort the differences. We are trying to put a common plank comprising of peoples issues. We are narrowing down the differences and keeping off the divergent views away from the election campaign.”

Ram Sethu
“AIADMK earlier championed the cause as part of the election manifesto. Now, it is opposing the execution of the project. Even the UPA is re-thinking and looking for alternative allignment. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (M. Karunanidhi) is also open to choosing a different allignment and even naming the project as Ram Sethu. We will discuss these issues with them,” Wardharajan said.

The CPI(M) has formally ended its ties with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and had finalized AIADMK, Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) and TDP as its allies. MDMKis already with the Left, with AIADMK trying to rope in other Parties for forming a strong opposition front to defeat DMK in the General elections.