Communist Party of India (CPI)’s national leaders, hoping to meet All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and seek her support for a Rajya Sabha seat, have decided to leave for Delhi on Sunday as they could not get an appointment with her.
Besides party’s general secretary S. Sudhakar Reddy, former general secretary A. B. Bardhan and national council secretary D. Raja, whose tenure in the Rajya Sabha is coming to an end, are here.
It has been planned to meet Ms Jayalalithaa when she is in New Delhi.
The Chief Minister is expected to go to New Delhi on Monday in connection with the finalisation of annual plan outlay.
On Friday, the CPI leaders attended a meeting of the party’s executive and Mr Baradhan told the State leaders that the first priority was to get a commitment of support from Ms Jayalalithaa before choosing the candidate.
Though Mr Raja is seeking a re-nomination, the party’s State secretary D. Pandian is also eyeing the seat.
About 10 days ago, the secretary was said to have told the State executive that Ms Jayalalithaa was keen on utilising his services in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections
The CPI has only eight members in the Assembly and will acquire support from the CPI(M) which has 10 members. It is dependent on the ruling AIADMK to muster adequate numbers.