<p>After working together for decades, Left parties in Andhra Pradesh are all set to part ways due to rifts between them over a number of issues, including that of Telangana.<br /><br /></p>.<p>For the first time in Andhra Pradesh’s history, the 2014 general election might see the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) in opposite political camps. <br /><br />The Telangana statehood issue saw the two parties taking diagonally opposite stands. <br /><br />While the CPI has been steadfastly supporting the demand for a separate Telangana state, the CPM strongly opposed the state’s bifurcation on the ground that such a move may lead to similar demands across the country.<br /><br />This is the first time that the Left parties have differed on a major political issue.Volatile dynamics<br /><br />The gulf between the two communist parties was further widened after their top leaders gave each other a tongue-lashing over their potential electoral allies.<br /><br />State CPI unit Secretary K Narayana has alleged that the CPM has been having “secret talks” with the YSR Congress Party, which is headed by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, for a tie-up in the next Assembly elections, scheduled for April or May next year. <br /><br />His CPM counterpart B V Raghavulu retaliated, accusing the CPI of making ideological compromises on several issues.<br /><br />Both communist parties have been, over years, facing a steady erosion of their support base in the state. <br /><br />In the 294-member Assembly, the CPI has four MLAs while the CPM has a lone representative. <br /><br />The Left parties were part of “Maha Kootami” (grand alliance), comprising the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the 2009 elections. <br /><br />However, with changing political dynamics, the Left parties have had a fall out with the TRS. <br /><br />While the CPI maintains a cordial relationship with the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, the CPM has distanced itself from the opposition party after differences cropped up between them on various issues.<br /><br />In efforts to break new ground, the Marxists seem to have kept their door open for a possible understanding with the fledgling YSR Congress Party, a move that has angered the CPI.<br /><br />According to an assessment by CPM leaders, Jagan could emerge as a more effective alternative to the Congress in Andhra Pradesh.</p>
<p>After working together for decades, Left parties in Andhra Pradesh are all set to part ways due to rifts between them over a number of issues, including that of Telangana.<br /><br /></p>.<p>For the first time in Andhra Pradesh’s history, the 2014 general election might see the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) in opposite political camps. <br /><br />The Telangana statehood issue saw the two parties taking diagonally opposite stands. <br /><br />While the CPI has been steadfastly supporting the demand for a separate Telangana state, the CPM strongly opposed the state’s bifurcation on the ground that such a move may lead to similar demands across the country.<br /><br />This is the first time that the Left parties have differed on a major political issue.Volatile dynamics<br /><br />The gulf between the two communist parties was further widened after their top leaders gave each other a tongue-lashing over their potential electoral allies.<br /><br />State CPI unit Secretary K Narayana has alleged that the CPM has been having “secret talks” with the YSR Congress Party, which is headed by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, for a tie-up in the next Assembly elections, scheduled for April or May next year. <br /><br />His CPM counterpart B V Raghavulu retaliated, accusing the CPI of making ideological compromises on several issues.<br /><br />Both communist parties have been, over years, facing a steady erosion of their support base in the state. <br /><br />In the 294-member Assembly, the CPI has four MLAs while the CPM has a lone representative. <br /><br />The Left parties were part of “Maha Kootami” (grand alliance), comprising the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the 2009 elections. <br /><br />However, with changing political dynamics, the Left parties have had a fall out with the TRS. <br /><br />While the CPI maintains a cordial relationship with the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, the CPM has distanced itself from the opposition party after differences cropped up between them on various issues.<br /><br />In efforts to break new ground, the Marxists seem to have kept their door open for a possible understanding with the fledgling YSR Congress Party, a move that has angered the CPI.<br /><br />According to an assessment by CPM leaders, Jagan could emerge as a more effective alternative to the Congress in Andhra Pradesh.</p>
