CPM goes by PWA decision to boycott November 19 election

Chennai: Indicating continuing differences in the four-party led People’s Welfare Alliance, CPI (M) on Monday said it has decided to boycott the November 19 election to three Assembly seats as it could not reach consensus on contesting the polls.

After PWA decided to boycott the polls, the Marxist party’s state secretariat committee, which met on October 26, decided to reconsider the boycott and hold fresh talks to convince other allies on contesting the polls in Thanjavur, Aravakkurichi and the by-poll in Thiruparankundram on November 19.

The Election Commission (EC) had earlier this month announced that polls to the Thanjavur and Aravakurichi Assembly seats, which it had rescinded in May in view of complaints of distribution of money, will be held on November 19. The by-poll in Thiruparankundram was necessitated following the death of AIADMK’s Seenivel. He  passed away after winning the seat in the May 16
polls.

When the PWF leaders met on October  21, CPI (M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan said that his party insisted on PWA contesting the polls since it considers the election was the continuation of the political struggle to establish itself as an alternative to AIADMK and DMK.

“Though it was decided not to contest the polls, party wings and those desiring an alternative in the state’s politics had expressed views that the PWA should fight the elections,” CPI (M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan said, adding that following which his party’s state secretariat decided to persuade other allies in favour of contesting the polls.

“Discussions were held with the PWA allies. Since there was no consensus, the CPI (M) decided not to contest the polls in the three constituencies,” he said in a statement.

 

Of late the constituents of PWA are ‘rebelling’ against the collective decisions. Last week VCK wanted the PWA to reconsider its decision to boycott the DMK called all party meet on Cauvery issue on October 25.

VCK insisted on participating in the all-party meet stating that Cauvery issue should not be linked with electoral politics while other parties opposed the move citing participation could be misconstrued as support to the DMK ahead of the elections.