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CPI rejects Laloo's offer, to go it alone in Bihar

Our Correspondent in New Delhi

The Communist Party of India has decided to go it alone in Bihar.

Rejecting the Rashtriya Janata Dal's offer of three Lok Sabha seats, the CPI state executive has decided to contest nine seats in the state.

"Our state unit has proposed that we contest nine seats. It is now for the RJD to respond," CPI secretary D Raja said.

The decision was taken by the Bihar executive of the CPI which meet in Patna today to assess the RJD's offer.

"There is no alliance with the RJD. We were discussing seat-sharing with them, [but] it did not work out," Raja told rediff.com

The communist politician said the CPI would support the CPI (Marxist) in two seats, and hoped the Marxists would respond by supporting the CPI in other seats.

While a final decision on the state unit's suggestion is yet to be taken, it is expected to be a mere formality.

Among the seats the CPI plans to contest are Godda, Buxar, Betia, Balia, Hazaribagh, Nalanda, Khagariya and Madhubani.

With the Left putting up its own candidates and breaking the alliance with the RJD, there is a possibility of the division of votes benefiting the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The RJD's alliance with the Congress too is in troubled waters, with the Bihar unit of the Congress virtually revolting against the leadership's decision to accept RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav's offer of 14 Lok Sabha seats.

The former chief minister's adamant attitude has already triggered much animosity in the Bihar Congress. And with reports from Patna that the Congress may set up 'friendly' contests in some seats against the RJD, there is perceptible delight in the BJP camp.

According to BJP vice-president Jagdish Prasad Mathur, Laloo's attitude towards his Leftist allies shows that his "honeymoon" with them is over. The BJP and its allies will reap the benefit of this split, Mathur pointed out.

EARLIER REPORT:
Congress-RJD tie-up faces uncertain future

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