Special Correspondent
CPI(M) to make its position known before Vidhan Sabha polls
Funds of the rural employment scheme being diverted: Kashyap Party to hold agitation programmes in January-February
LUCKNOW: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has kept its options open for pre-poll alliance or seat adjustment with secular forces, including the Samajwadi Party, for next year’s Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Since the party considered communalism a big challenge, efforts would be made to ensure the defeat of Bharatiya Janata Party in the maximum number of seats, for forming a secular government in the State.
Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the two-day state committee meeting of the CPI(M), attended by party General Secretary Prakash Karat, secretary of the Uttar Pradesh State Committee S.P. Kashyap said, the party’s position would be made known before the Vidhan Sabha elections. He said talks were on with secular forces.
Mr. Kashyap said the party had decided to contest 16 seats which included Najibabad in Bijnor district and Meja in Allahabad where the CPI(M) candidates won in 2002 and Mehnagar in Azamgarh district where the party was placed second.
Stating that the law and order situation in the State had deteriorated, Mr. Kashyap said while crime had increased, kidnapping had become a business in the State and the police was involved in criminal activities. Criticising the slow pace of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Kashyap alleged that the funds for the job scheme were being diverted to other programmes. Farmers’ problemshad also multiplied.
Mr. Kashyap said that the party would launch an agitation in protest against these issues in January, which would continue in February. The agitation programme would include dharna, demonstration and jail bharo by the party cadres. In February-end dharnas and agitations would be held at the district headquarters. The two-day meeting of the CPI(M) State Committee concluded on Sunday.
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