Chennai, Jan 22: CPI general secretary A B Bardhan said here today that his party has identified four seats in Tamil Nadu for contesting in the coming Lok Sabha polls including the two seats it had contested last time. Refusing to name the four seats, he told a press conference here that he was not naming them now as they had to be discussed with various parties, particularly the DMK. Naming them now would amount to 'pre-judging', he said. Bardhan said in the first week of March, a joint campaign would be launched before which various issues including the seats to be contested by CPI would be finalised.
He said his party had made progress in the state with the membership having gone up to one lakh from 50 to 60 thousand earlier, thanks to the 'padayatras' organised by the party to support people on many issues.
Asked whether his party would be satisfied with possible offer of two seats by the DMK-led democratic progressive alliance in the state, Bardhan shot back 'why not three?'.
The number of seats to be contested was not the main criterion but the only goal was to defeat the BJP and its allies in the coming Lok Sabha polls and ensure that the BJP did not get a second term, he said.
Bureau Report