CHENNAI: A day after one of the key constituents of the People’s Welfare Alliance (PWA), CPM, breaking ranks to announce unilaterally its decision to contest the RK Nagar by-election, the other two constituents – CPI and VCK – on Sunday declared that they would neither contest nor support anyone in the polls.
CPI state secretary R Mutharasan and VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan announced the decision at a joint press conference. “The stand of both of us is neither to contest nor support anyone in the by-poll,” the leaders said. However, they urged all secular, democratic forces including the CPM in Tamil Nadu to realise the need to work in cooperation, given the move of casteist, communal forces preparing the grounds to set foot in TN.
Explaining the point of contention during discussions held on four occasions, the leaders of the CPI and VCK recalled that the CPM did not even consider the suggestion to stay away from the polls, even if the PWA need not move in the direction to unite secular, democratic forces. The CPI initially suggested a decision favourable to unite secular, democratic forces instead of jumping into the elections but CPM did not agree to it. The Marxists remained stubborn on their decision to contest the polls, even after the CPI compromised on its stand, a joint statement released by CPI and VCK explained.
It further stated that even as the VCK expressed its acceptance to CPI’s suggestion, the CPM went ahead with announcing its decision to contest the polls. That virtually sounded the death-knell for the much trumpeted PWA. While maintaining that the CPM had the full rights to take its own decision, the CPI and VCK said they had no regrets in this regard.