TN polls: CPI(M)'s efforts to forge consensus in PWF fail

Its efforts to forge a consensus within the People's Welfare Front (PWF) favouring contesting the November 19 polls proving elusive, the CPI(M) today said it would stick to the front's earlier decision to boycott the polls in three constituencies of Tamil Nadu.
PWF, comprising CPI(M), CPI, MDMK and VCK, had decided unanimously on October 21 not to contest the polls in Thanjavur, Aravakkurichi and the by-poll in Thirupparankundram on November 19.
The Election Commission (EC) had earlier this month announced that polls to the Thanjavur and Aravakurichi Assembly seats, which it had rescinded in May in view of complaints of distribution of money, will be held on November 19.

The by-poll in Thirupparankundram was necessitated following the death of AIADMK's Seenivel who passed away after winning the seat in the May 16 polls.
CPI (M) state secretary G Ramakrishnan said, "Though it was decided not to contest the polls, party wings and those desiring an alternative in the state's politics had expressed views that the PWF should fight the elections."
He said following this, on October 26, his party had decided to persuade the other PWF allies to take a decision to contest the elections.

"Discussions were held with the PWF allies. Since there was no consensus, the CPI(M) decided not to contest the polls in the three constituencies," he said in a statement.

The development comes after another instance wherein, another PWF constituent VCK dropped its idea of participating in the recent DMK-led all-party meet on the Cauvery issue as the other allies in the front were not in favour of it.
PWF leaders felt that if a constituent party participated in the Cauvery meet ahead of the elections, it may be misconstrued as support to the DMK, especially when the four-party group had decided to stay away from the polls in the three constituencies.
Referring to such pulls and pressures within the PWF, Tamil Nadu Congress chief Su Thirunavukkarasar today claimed that the alliance "will not last long".

He claimed that on several matters, including the issue involving Sri Lankan Tamils and Cauvery, there was no consensus within the front.
(REOPEN MDS2)
Meanwhile, Puthiya Thamizhagam President K Krishnaswamy said his party has decided to boycott the polls to the three constituencies.
The party was of the view that the polls would not be conducted in a fair manner, he told reporters here.
An ally of the AIADMK during the 2011 Assembly election, Puthiya Thamizhagam had joined hands with DMK and contested the 2016 Assembly polls in four seats but had drawn a blank.