CPI(M) will not withdraw support: Chennithala

Staff Reporter

Ramesh Chennithala alleges that the CPI(M) is encouraging extremist and communal groups.

THRISSUR: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala has said that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) will not have the courage to withdraw support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre, notwithstanding the frequent threats of the leaders of that party.

Replying to questions at a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Chennithala said if the CPI(M) leaders decided to withdraw support to the UPA Government, it would become clear that they were trying to help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He said the CPI(M) was already helping the BJP by frequently trying to discredit and destabilise the UPA Government with unwarranted criticisms.

Mr. Chennithala alleged that the CPI(M) was encouraging extremist and communal groups such as the PDP and Jamaat-e-Islami. The CPI(M) leaders had described such groups as fundamentalists and communal extremists. Therefore, the party should explain on what basis they had decided to tie up with such groups, Mr. Chennithala said. He said the CPI(M) should clarify on the reports of party leader T. K. Hamsa meeting PDP leader Abdul Nasir Maudany in Coimbatore jail. The party should make public what transpired between Mr. Hamsa and Mr. Maudany.

UDF win essential: Antony

The former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee member A.K. Antony has said that the victory of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Assembly elections alone will guarantee stability of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme organised by the Kannur Press Club on Friday, Mr. Antony said that CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and Polit Bureau member S. Ramachandran Pillai had now refuted any move to destabilise the UPA Government in response to his query whether the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) would withdraw, as suggested by a section of its senior leaders, the support to the UPA Government if the Left coalition won the Assembly elections in Kerala and West Bengal.

Though he welcomed the response of Mr. Karat and Mr. Pillai which struck a note different from some other CPI(M) leaders who had predicted doom for the UPA Government in the event of the Left winning the two States, Mr. Antony said that the CPI(M) leadership did not appear to be steadfast in its support to the UPA Government.

The UDF would turn Kerala into the number one State in south India if elected, he added.