Following the decision of the CPM State unit to go it alone in the Lok Sabha elections and not be a part of the DMK-led front, the CPI too decided to follow suit on Monday. The leaders of both the parties are likely to meet on March 15 to identify the seats. The decision to this effect was taken at the CPI State unit’s executive committee meeting held here in the presence of CPI general secretary Sudhakar Reddy. Ruling out accepting the DMK’s offer for electoral alliance, he said “it is not the right step under the present circumstances.”
Reddy further saidhis party did not have the mechanism to contest all the 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The CPI would hold discussions with the CPM to identify the Lok Sabha seats to be contested.
On Monday afternoon, while releasing the DMK’s candidates list, its president M Karunanidhi hinted that his party was still open for alliance with Left parties.