The State unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) says it will support the CPI in the Pudukottai Assembly constituency if the latter decides to field a candidate for the by-election.
The seat fell vacant following the death of CPI MLA P. Muthukumaran.
Though the CPI is keen on nominating its candidate, the AIADMK has announced its nominee, closing the doors for negotiations. The CPI was part of the AIADMK alliance in the 2011 elections. Attempts made by the CPI leadership to get an appointment with AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa did not elicit a response.
Asked about the developments, CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan said that it would be appropriate if the seat was allotted to the CPI. “If the CPI decides to enter the fray our party will support its candidate,” he told The Hindu .
The CPI has announced that the decision on contesting the Pudukottai by-election will be taken at the party's State executive council meeting on Thursday.
Mr. Ramakrishnan said that the CPI (M) and the CPI could also get the support of other parties who were with them in the general elections. He was hinting at the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) led by Vijayakant.
The CPI (M) and the DMDK have been maintaining a good relationship ever since the parties parted ways with the AIADMK in the run-up to the local body elections in 2011 over seat-sharing agreement. The parties contested the local body elections together. The CPI joined them at the last minute.
When Mr. Vijayakant solicited the CPI (M)'s support for the Sankarankoil by-election, the party supported the DMDK.
