CHENNAI: CPI state secretary M Veerapandian on Tuesday clarified that the party has not made any decision to contest the upcoming local body election on its own. At the same time, he asserted that CPI and other Left parties have the organisational strength and voter base to go solo if political circumstances warranted it. “We have not tested our strength in recent years. If situation demands it, we are capable of contesting alone,” he said.
The remarks come after media reports suggested that the CPI, unhappy with “horse-trading” in the state, is planning to fight the local body polls alone.
Speaking to TNIE, the CPI leader said the recently formed coordination committee of Left parties was not created for elections. “It is a platform to fight for the welfare of Tamil Nadu and the rights of working people. When local body, Assembly or Lok Sabha elections come, we will decide our stand,” he said.
On “horse-trading” of MLAs, Veerapandian warned that attempts to encourage defections could damage Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s image and reduce public confidence in the TVK government.
He stressed that the Left parties’ support to the government was based on political principles and they do not intend to create instability. “We will not do anything to weaken or topple the government,” he said.
Veerapandian also said the support extended by secular allies should be respected.