Left in deep woods on Rajya Sabha seat
Chennai: CPI’s emergency executive committee meeting on Friday in the presence of the party’s general secretary Sudhakar Reddy and senior leader A.B. Bardhan decided to get the AIADMK to commit support to the party’s bid for one seat from Tamil Nadu, before choosing its candidate for the June 27 Rajya Sabha poll.
“We decided to first get the AIADMK’s support. The decision on our candidate will be taken later. We will not contest if the AIADMK does not commit,” a senior CPI leader told DC amid rumours of bitter contest between incumbent D Raja and state secretary D. Pandian. While Raja is sure of the party’s central leadership, Pandian appears sure of support from AIADMK leadership. State secretary D. Pandian has long been identified as supporter of the AIADMK leadership and the state government. On the other hand Raja is identified as being friendly with the DMK leadership on whose support he had won his first term.
Reddy, Bardhan and Raja came to the city hoping to get an appointment with AIADMK supremo and chief minister Jayalalithaa for seeking support for the party in RS polls. However, they did not get response, yet.
CPI sources said Bardhan made it clear at the Friday meet in Chennai that only the central council would decide on the RS candidate. “The state council can only recommend but the final decision will be taken only by the central council”, sources quoted Bardhan as saying.
Another senior executive committee member said Pandian explained his position regarding the media reports saying he was keen on a RS seat. “Pandian said he would comply with the decision of the central council,” he said.
The AIADMK with 151 MLAs is sure to win four of the six seats in the June 27 contest—34 legislators can elect on RS member—and still have 16 votes to spare. The CPI and CPI (M) together have 18 votes. While the Marxists are not interested in contesting, the CPI can get a seat only if the AIADMK gives it its 16 spare votes.
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