Will quit, CPI warns Prajakutami, seat-sharing to be delayed

Hyderabad: The CPI executive body that met here on Sunday saw some leaders suggesting that the party step out of the Prajakutami if the Congress continues to offer them only three seats as part of the alliance.

CPI leaders appear to be borrowing from the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) model to deal with the Congress. The TJS has been offered one seat, and the Congress wants samiti chairman Prof. M. Kodandaram to stay out of the elections and take over as Deputy Chief Minister. The Congress has offered to get him elected to the Legislative Council.

The two parties have held several rounds of negotiations, and the Congress has fielded senior Congress leader K. Jana Reddy to carry on the negotiations.

The CPI leaders who had demanded nine seats over the last few days are now expecting a minimum of five. Party leader Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao and some other leaders suggested to general secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy to leave the alliance if the demand was not met. “The discussions are going on and no decision was taken on this. There will be another meet to decide the future plan,” said a leader.

Mr Sudhakar Reddy said, “We are joining hands with other parties to defeat the TRS government for the benefit of the people.” The Congress is not keen on giving more seats to the CPI and will likely get involved in tense negotiations.

 This particular episode may further delay announcing the seat deal for the Prajakutami, and the common minimum programme of the alliance.

While it is being said that the TD will not negotiate for seats so as to not upset the alliance and will work to dethrone the TRS government, the last word remains to be said.