Solapur, Apr 28: CPM and other Left Parties have extended "conditional support" to Maharastra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde who is seeking election to the state assembly from the south Solapur constituency. A decision to this effect was taken at the party's state committee meeting held at Belapur in Navi Mumbai, which was also attended by polit buro member Sitaram Yechuri, CPM leader Narsayya Adam told reporters here today. As per the decision, CPM will not participate in campaigning for May 21 by-elections, he said.


The Left Parties' conditional support was to protest the Shinde government's failure in handling drought-like situation, power and water shortage in the state, Adam said.
Meanwhile, the left parties have called for a nation-wide industrial bandh on May 21 protesting central government's `anti-labour' policy, Adam said.


The bandh was also to protest against globalisation, liberal economic policy and privatisation policies of the Centre, he added.


Shinde filed his nomination papers on April 26 for the by-polls.
Bureau Report