CPI(M) eyes 18 seats in non-bastion states

Apart from fielding its candidates in the bastions of Kerala and West Bengal, the CPI(M) is eyeing at least 18 seats across six important states in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The party’s Central Committee today started its two-day meeting here to finalise the seats and the party’s manifesto. “We are discussing the possibilities of alliances in different states. The manifesto will also be finalised,” said Politburo leader Sitaram Yechury.

According to party sources, the CPI(M) wants to field three candidates each in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh — where it has forged an alliance with Jayalalitha’s AIADMK and Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, respectively. The CPI(M) has two sitting MPs in the 14th Lok Sabha from Tamil Nadu and one from Andhra Pradesh.

While the CPI(M) had won Nagercoil and Madurai last time, it is keen to change the Nagercoil seat in this election. Apart from six seats in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the party may contest five seats in Bihar, two in Uttar Pradesh, two in Tripura and three seats in Rajasthan. In Bihar, for the first time in recent history, the CPI(M) will be fighting against Lalu Prasad’s RJD and has sealed a seat sharing agreement with the CPI(M-L) and the CPI.

The general secretaries of different states today submitted their reports to the Central Committee on the current political situation in their states. It is learnt that the West Bengal unit has conveyed that it will have a tough battle as the Trinamool Congress and the Congress are set to contest as an alliance. “The election will be tough but we are hopeful of winning the majority of the seats in West Bengal,” said Politburo member and Bengal Industry Minister Nirupam Sen.