The Communist Party of India (CPI) would announce the names of its candidates contesting the nine Lok Sabha seats on March 19, party State secretary D. Pandian said on Saturday.
The party’s State executive committee would meet on March 17 to discuss the issue and forward the list to the central committee.
Upon getting clearance from the central committee, the names of the candidates would be announced on March 19, Mr. Pandian told the media shortly after the conclusion of the State council meeting here.
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Mr. Pandian made it clear that the Left parties had decided not to extend their support to the AIADMK, DMK, Congress, and the BJP-led alliance in Tamil Nadu.
The AIADMK leader and Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, had not made any reference to the BJP in the poll campaigns so far which only showed that the party had changed track, he said claiming that the AIADMK’s political stand had altered.
Asked about the prospects of the Left parties in the 18 Lok Sabha seats it had decided to contest, Mr. Pandian said, “we have entered the fray relying on the electorate.” Mr. Pandian said the CPI had identified three reserved constituencies of the nine seats.
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Asked if any other party had approached the Left seeking support, Mr. Pandian said the CPI had so far not spoken to anyone.
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance rule had been rocked by a series of scams and rise in farmers’ suicides, and witnessed a sharp dip in exports.
The party was firm on the stand that the Congress rule should not be given an extension.
There was no difference with respect to the BJP as it had the support of the corporates.
The State council meeting, he said, discussed the elections and issues connected with it.
A resolution was passed at the meeting urging India to treat the war crimes committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka as genocide and to seek an international investigation, and support the resolution by bringing in suitable amendments.