The Hindu : Khammam seat key to CPI-CPI(M) ties

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Khammam seat key to CPI-CPI(M) ties

By Our Staff Reporter

KHAMMAM, FEB. 23. The Communists who are firm on staging a comeback are being asked a common question persistently -- who will opt for the Khammam Assembly constituency ? There is no ready answer with either the Communist Party of India or the Communist Party of India (Marxist). But it is the key issue to be sorted out to work on any sort of electoral alliance or seat adjustment as much between themselves as with the Congress.

Khammam is being looked upon as its stronghold by each. The CPI leader, Puvvada Nageswara Rao, had contested from the Assembly constituency in the last three elections and lost it to the Congress in 1999.

His party drew a blank in the State in the last elections. As a result, he is keen on contesting from the same Assembly constituency now.

The CPI(M) has also been staking claim for the seat. Its central committee member and former MP, Thammineni Veerabhadram, was keen on seeking nomination from the Khammam Assembly constituency this time.

The party district committee had made its intentions clear to the CPI well in advance.

The CPI(M) has offered the CPI the Khammam parliamentary constituency instead.

The CPI(M) would put forth the proposal in talks with the Congress scheduled for Tuesday. But Mr. Puvvada Nageswara Rao is favouring a status quo so far as seat-sharing between the two parties is concerned. He is reluctant to opt for the Khammam parliamentary constituency.

"I have not visited Rajupeta or Easwara Madaram village in the Palair Assembly constituency for over a decade." So was the case with places in other segments the CPI(M) was given as part of the electoral alliance in the previous elections.

The Khammam parliamentary constituency would no way be my option, he said. He said the party and people in Khammam wanted him to contest again from the same Assembly constituency.

People had realised what they had lost after his defeat in 1999, he said.

Enquiries about his decision were pouring in the wake of rumours that he would be going in for the Khammam parliamentary constituency, he said. If the CPI(M) was keen on swapping the Khammam parliamentary constituency for the Khammam Assembly constituency, it could be considered in the next elections. Such a proposal could not be given any consideration at this stage, said Mr. Nageswar Rao. It was already made clear to the CPI(M) leadership.

The CPI would once again be able to put forth its views in discussions with the Congress and CPI(M) tomorrow.

The CPI(M) should have made the proposal at least during the last election.

The CPI(M) leader, Mr. Thammineni Veerabhadram, said the Khammam seat issue was something pertaining to the two political parties and individuals would not matter here. Someone else from the CPI(M) may be considered for nomination from Khammam, he added.

The Khammam Assembly seat initially belonged to the CPI(M) and it was one of the 28 seats asked for by the party in seat-sharing.

It was allotted to the CPI in 1999 as part of the electoral alliance between the two parties despite the fact that it was a CPI(M) stronghold.

The Khammam Assembly seat issue had to be decided in consultation with the Congress, he added. In the meantime, Younis Sultan, former MLA and Congress leader, said he would seek renomination only from the Khammam Assembly seat.

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