Left turn leaves PR alone

By J.R.PRASAD

Hyderabad, Nov. 23: The Praja Rajyam is likely to go to the 2009 Assembly elections alone, with the Left parties leaning towards the Telugu Desam. For now, the PR leaders are pinning their hopes on a possible alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti. However, the TRS is leaning towards the ruling Congress. Moreover, its chances of joining hands with the PR seem remote, since the latter is already holding talks with the Nava Telangana Party president, Mr T. Devender Goud, to merge his party with the PR.

Even though the PR leaders tried their best to forge a pre-poll alliance with the Left parties, the latter’s decision to move with the TD has poured cold water on their hopes.

Even though Chiranjeevi’s brother-in-law, Mr Allu Aravind, met the top brass of the Left and tried to persuade them for a pre-poll pact, the Central leadership of CPI and CPI(M) preferred the TD to the PR due alliances at the national level. Sources in the PR said Mr Aravind had called on the CPI general secretary, Mr A.B. Bardhan, on Saturday, but failed to persuade him.

According to sources, the CPI(M) general secretary, Mr Prakash Karat, convinced Mr Bardhan to align with the TD since both Left parties wanted to adopt a common approach on an electoral pact.

"This decision was taken based on the alliances at the Centre. The TD-led UNPA and the Left have been moving together for the past year on common issues. Our front took up various agitation programmes across the country on issues like price rise, the Indo-US nuclear deal," said a senior leader in the CPI.

Besides this, the PR leadership’s lack of clarity on key issues like economic reforms, World Bank policies were also believed to have led the Left to prefer the TD for an electoral pact. In the wake of these developments, the PR will have to contest the next elections without a partner.

When asked about this, the PR spokesperson, Mr K. Vidyadhara Rao said: "The Left’s decision will not have any impact on our prospects. We will fight on our own. We will come out with flying colours." He ruled out the possibility of joining hands with the BJP.