The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : YSR’s resignation: differences in Left come to the fore

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Tuesday, Jul 31, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

YSR’s resignation: differences in Left come to the fore

The police firing in Mudigonda has exposed the uncomfortable relationship between the two Left parties

HYDERABAD: Differences between the two Left parties, CPI (M) and CPI, over their stand, vis-À-vis the Government, have come to the fore yet again.

After their face-off over the relationship with the Telugu Desam Party a few months ago, the two Left parties appeared to be putting up a united front, thanks to the struggle launched for distribution of land and house sites to the poor.

But the police firing in Mudigonda has exposed the uncomfortable relationship between the two parties what with the CPI (M) demanding the ouster of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and the CPI maintaining a safe distance on the issue.

Polit Bureau support

In the aftermath of the incident, the CPI (M) leaders, including the party’s State secretary B.V. Raghavulu, joined forces with TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu to demand the removal of Dr. Reddy owning moral responsibility for the Mudigonda incident.

The leaders were so vocal in their demand that the CPI (M) Polit Bureau at its meeting on Monday supported its State committee’s demand citing “growing popular sentiment” against the Chief Minister and decided to take up the matter with the Congress leadership.

The CPI State leadership, however, is of the view that the land struggle would take a backseat if the parties press for Dr. Reddy’s resignation. The parties could mobilise support from the poor with their prolonged agitation and the issue would be diverted once the resignation was sought.

CPI reasoning

Even if Dr. Reddy is displaced from his post, another Congressman would take over and the Left would have to take up its struggle all over again.

“It is not the case where the Government is being replaced. What moral right do we have to ask the Government for taking up land issues after pressing for the removal of the Chief Minister,” senior CPI leaders said.

Crucial stage

“The demand for implementation of the recommendations made by the Koneru Ranga Rao land committee has reached a crucial stage and we will not like to leave the poor stranded midway,” CPI State secretary K. Narayana told The H indu.