CPM ties up with TDP for Andhra bypolls

On Wednesday, the CPI(M) decided to enter into an electoral alliance with the Telugu Desam Party for the coming bypolls in Andhra Pradesh.

Reviving ties after a long gap, the CPI(M) on Tuesday decided to enter into an electoral alliance with the Telugu Desam Party for the coming bypolls in Andhra Pradesh.

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The party polit bureau, which met in Kolkata today, took a decision in this regard, senior CPI(M) leader Y Venkateswara Rao said here.

The CPI(M), which is contesting two assembly seats out of the 18 going to bypolls next month, would support CPI in two constituencies where the latter is fielding candidates.

In the remaining constituencies, it would back TDP nominees.

Rao, however, said the tie-up with the TDP is confined to the May 29 bye-elections and a decision on alliances for the 2009 general elections would be taken later.

The move comes against the backdrop of efforts to forge a third front at national level as an alternative to the Congress and BJP.

The UNPA, in which TDP is a key partner, and the Left parties have been talking about the need for such an alternative.

The Left parties were the traditional allies of the TDP ever since its inception in 1983 but moved away from the regional party in 1998 following the latter's decision to sail with BJP.

Meanwhile, the CPI has already announced that it would maintain equi-distance from both the Congress and TDP.

It has, however, said it would continue alliance with CPI(M).