CPM to support TDP in Andhra bypolls

The Communist Party of India-Marxist has decided to support the Telugu Desam Party in the May 29 by-polls in Andhra Pradesh to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling Congress, the party's state secretary BV Raghavulu said in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

"While the BJP is 'dangerous' to the country because of its communal agenda, the Congress government has failed on various fronts and corruption has reached new heights in the state," Raghavulu said.

Raghavulu, also a member of the CPI-M politburo, was speaking at a 'Meet the Press' organised by the Andhra
Pradesh Union of Working Journalists in the run-up to the by-elections to four Lok Sabha and 18 assembly seats in
the state.

The flagship schemes of the government like 'Indiramma' housing scheme, 'Arogya Sri' health scheme, 'Jalayagnam' (irrigation mission) have failed to deliver the goods, Raghavulu alleged.

The government should undertake a course correction and decide its priorities in the implementation of irrigation
projects, Raghavulu said.
 
Replying to a query, Raghavulu said his party had opposed the TDP in the 2004 assembly elections as the regional party was allied with the BJP then and the Chandrababu Naidu government had followed pro-rich economic policies.

Asked what role his party would play in the 2009 assembly elections, he said it would decide its stance at that time.
   
The CPM leader has also criticised the Congress government over the Election Commission notices to the chief secretary and some Congress legislators for alleged violations of the model code of conduct.