The Left parties are hesitant about an alliance with the Congress in the local body elections. There is a discussion among the grassroots Left cadre that it is better to contest the elections alone than with the Congress at a time when there is strong opposition among the people against the government. The district and grassroots leaders and activists have reportedly conveyed the same opinion to the state leadership regarding alliances after the schedule for the local body elections was released.
Presently, Congress, AIMIM, Telangana Jana Samiti and CPI continue to be allies in the state. The CPM, however, is working with the Congress and CPI on issue-by-issue basis with an anti-BJP stance. The Left leaders say that a final decision on this matter is likely to be taken in a meeting to be held on the 8th of this month.The state leaders of the Left parties, who are working on alliances and strategies to be followed in the local elections, have taken feedback from the districts.
The CPI and CPM field leaders and ranks have made it clear to the state leaders that even though the Congress has been in power for two years, the promises made to the people have not been implemented. They deplored that the government has failed miserably in the education, medical and agricultural sectors. They also allege that the Congress government has also committed fraud in the welfare of the elderly, disabled and women.
They are accusing that the Congress has failed in every field in the state, including grabbing farmers’ lands, arrests, harassment, urea issue, demolition of poor houses in the name of Hydra, and in this context, district leaders are reported to feel that it is certain to sink due to its friendship with the Congress party. They are raising concerns over the government’s anti-people policies.
The Left parties have some strength in the joint districts of Khammam, Nalgonda, Ranga Reddy and Mahabubnagar. The Congress has more MLAs from those districts. Therefore, the Left local cadre believes that the Congress leaders do not want the Left parties to strengthen there.
The village and division level leaders have made it clear to the district level leadership that they will stay away from alliances in the Sarpanch, MPTC and ZPTC elections held on local issues and will think about alliances after the elections are over.
There is a campaign going on that the state leadership of the Left parties is inclined to form an alliance with the Congress even though the ranks are opposing it at the field level. The leaders are thinking that if they go together with the ruling party, besides saving election expenses, they can complete the necessary work with the government.