Electoral understandings in states would help defeat BJP: CPI

HYDERABAD: The CPI was of the view that electoral understandings in the states to avoid a split in secular votes would help defeat the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, party general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said today.

"At state level, under the state-specific conditions, this understandings is possible. The same type of understanding, not to split the opposition vote, particularly secular vote, that understanding will defeat BJP in the coming elections," he told reporters here.He, however, said such an understanding in elections at the national level may not be possible.

"As far as elections are concerned, tactics should be different. At the national level, it may not be possible. Because, many regional parties are there. Regional parties cannot come together at the national level to discuss these things," Reddy said.

Reddy, who was re-elected as CPI General Secretary for a third consecutive term at the party's 23rd congress held in Kerala, said the party feels that a broad secular, democratic platform should be promoted to fight against the BJP.

"Our party is of the opinion that a broad secular, democratic, Left platform, including Dalits, minorities, intellectuals, civil society should be built up to fight back effectively this trends, semi-fascistic trends of the BJP," he said.The CPI leader claimed that the front being talked about by TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao would help the BJP.

"KCR is trying to form a federal front. That front is now supported by (BJP president) Amit Shah. This itself shows whose interests this front is going to work in favour of." 

"The opposition vote may split because of this front. Whether KCR is purposefully doing it, unwittingly doing it, it is going to help only BJP in the coming period," Reddy said.
He expressed opposition to the "type of front" being proposed by Rao.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had earlier said he was keen to participate in the national politics to bring about a "change," and was in talks with others to form a platform of like-minded parties.

Rao, who has announced plans to forge a non-Congress and non-BJP alternative at the national level, had called on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Bannerjee and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and DMK working president MK Stalin in this regard.