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In poll-bound Rajasthan, both SP, BSP will do for CPI (M)

JAIPUR: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) may consider an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party in the forthcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections later this year. In the context of the political re-alignments that have taken place at the national level, the party is looking for new options in this election-bound State.

“Our programme is to oppose the BJP and the Congress. We are looking for alliances with like-minded parties such as the Communist Party of India and the Nationalist Congress Party,” said Hannan Mollah, CPI (M) Member of Parliament in charge of the party’s Rajasthan affairs after a meeting of the State Secretariat members here. He did not rule out continuation of the party’s alliance with the Samajwadi Party at the State level.

“In the case of the SP we may consider a tie-up if it approaches us,” he said.

Mr. Mollah said the CPI (M) is going ahead with its plan to contest 35 seats in Rajasthan in the elections scheduled in November. The constituencies are spread over 22 districts including Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh, Sikar, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Udaipur, Dungarpur and Bikaner, he informed. It is obvious that the party, which led successful farmers’ agitation over irrigation water and tariff reduction in electricity, would be concentrating on the Shekhawati region and in Sriganganagar-Hanumangarh districts.

“The plans would take a more concrete shape when the State Committee of the party meets in Jaipur on August 9 and 10,” Mr. Mollah said. The party would fight the next election targeting the BJP as its No.1 enemy and then the Congress, he said.

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