CPI to go for state-specific electoral alliances for Lok Sabha polls

NEW DELHI: CPI would go for state-specific electoral alliances and seat adjustments with regional secular democratic parties in the 2014 general elections to defeat Congress and prevent BJP from presenting itself as an alternative in its bid for power.

The party, which concluded a two-day National Executive meeting here, said it wanted to "have a strong Left block in the next Lok Sabha to play a role in the formation of a non- Congress and non-BJP government at the Centre."

The CPI leaders, who reviewed the results of the recent assembly polls in five states, felt that the people opted for an alternative wherever available to both Congress and BJP, which were "wedded to neo-liberal policies".

Terming the results as "expression of mass anger against price rise and corruption," the party said the outcome was "a rebuff to anti-people policies of UPA-II" as people voted against the neo-liberal policies pursued by the government.

"People are looking for an alternative to the two major parties. In Delhi, AAP presented itself as a reasonable alternative and got good results," CPI National Secretary D Raja told PTI.

In this backdrop, CPI's top leadership discussed the preparations for Lok Sabha polls and asked the state units to complete the processes of selecting the constituencies to be contested by the party, he said.

The National Executive would meet again in the third week of January to review these preparations and take decisions on the 2014 polls, Raja said.

To achieve the goal of enhancing the strength of the Left in the new Lok Sabha, CPI would "go for state-specific electoral alliances and seat adjustments with regional secular democratic parties."

The CPI leader said the state units would have to assess the situation in their respective states, work out state- specific electoral adjustments and tactical line, which should be tune with the overall line of the party.