The Hindu : Front Page : CPI(M) fields candidate in Khammam

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Sunday, Jul 09, 2006

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CPI(M) fields candidate in Khammam

Special Correspondent

Says no response from the Congress on supporting nominee for ZP chief post

HYDERABAD: Within less than two days of expressing the party's willingness to take Congress help for the Khammam Zilla Parishad Chairperson post, the CPI (M) on Saturday announced the candidature of E. Bharathi, ZPTC member from Kusumanchi.

The CPI (M) State Committee took this decision "as there was no response from the Congress on extending support to it". State party secretary B. V. Raghavulu said that after all the efforts it had made to secure the ZP chief's post, the CPI (M) could not simply give up the post now. Asked whether he expected the TDP to continue its support, he said "this was our understanding before the elections."

This announcement by the Marxists seems to have made a toss inevitable in Khammam where the Congress and the TDP-led alliances are tied at 22 seats each in 46 member body. The CPI (ML-New Democracy), which bagged two ZPTC seats, has decided to abstain from voting.

Meanwhile, political temperatures in the State capital began rising two days ahead of the election of Zilla Parishad chairpersons on July 10 as parties focussed their efforts on bagging the Khammam, Karimnagar, Ranga Reddy and Anantapur ZPs where the margins between the rival combines are relatively narrow.

In Karimnagar, no agreement has been reached between the Congress and TRS. The Congress needs the six votes of the latter if it is to win the ZP chairmanship.

The TRS has announced the candidature of K. Vijaya, ZPTC member from Jammikunta, claiming that it had received strong signals from the APCC leadership to support her for the post. APCC president K. Keshava Rao did not, however, confirm this.

Significantly, Dr. Keshava Rao also stated that his party "might not be able to spare a zilla parishad chairman's post to the CPI." He is holding behind-the-scene consultations with senior party leaders in districts like Nizamabad where there was no consensus on the ZP nominee. In view of lack of consensus, the option of sending sealed covers containing the party candidates' names is not ruled out.

Meanwhile, the TDP has stepped up vigil to prevent poaching of its candidates in Anantapur where it is ahead by three seats and is grappling with groupism in Ranga Reddy district.

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