Upcoming elections for the GHMC could see their first ever ‘Maha Gatbandhan’ or mega coalition, if the efforts to forge a united forum of Left and democratic forces yield results.
Left parties are holding talks with various political groups, not necessarily sharing similar ideologies, towards forming a coalition that would go to polls. However, the aim is not to win but to create a constituency in the city for the Left and democratic forces, say sources from the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
“Though CPI(M) contested GHMC polls earlier, that was limited to only a few wards where we were relatively stronger. Contestants will be fielded in all 150 wards from the newly proposed alliance,” State Secretary of CPI(M) Tammineni Veerabhadram told The Hindu . Along with CPI and CPI (M), the other Left forces to be part of the coalition are MCPI, All India Forward Block, SUCI, RSP, CPI (M-L) Liberation, and CPI (M-L) New Democracy.
Welfare Party of India, a recent entrant into the electoral fray, has reportedly conveyed its willingness to be part of the front, and is hoped to make inroads into the impenetrable old city by garnering the votes of Muslim youth. Batting for politics based on values, the party had contested the 2014 parliamentary elections. Lok Satta too is likely to be roped in, as State president Panduranga Rao reportedly informed that the party had no problem joining forces with the coalition.
