In a dramatic political development, the CPM on Wednesday seemed to be breaking off with its alliance partner in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK.
CPM sources confirmed the development but official word is expected on Thursday after the CPM and CPI discuss the issue.
CPM sources said their party was unhappy with the number of seats the AIADMK was offering. The CPM and the CPI were said to be expecting three seats each to contest in the Lok Sabha in alliance with AIADMK.
G Ramakrishnan, state secretary of CPM told press persons at the end of the meeting “there has been no progress in seat sharing talks with the AIADMK in the past 15 days in six meetings.” All indications were that the Left would walk out of the alliance with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.
Ramakrishnan said that “there will be a meeting with CPI on Thursday to decide on continuing in the alliance.”
If Jayaalithaa allows the Left to slip away at this stage when it is the only political force that can propel her at the Centre, it will be very perplexing, said Prof Ramu Manivannan, head of political science and public administration in Madras University. “Unless it is a signal to the BJP that she is ready to do business with it,” he added.
The CPI has called for an emergency meeting of its state executive committee on Thursday.The AIADMK-Left rift has put the other alliance talks on hold, for the moment.
{{/usCountry}}The CPI has called for an emergency meeting of its state executive committee on Thursday.The AIADMK-Left rift has put the other alliance talks on hold, for the moment.
{{/usCountry}}The BJP that was to announce its alliance with Captian Vijayakanth’s DMDK suddenly cancelled its scheduled press conference in the afternoon.