CPI urges Telangana Congress to adhere to alliance principles to overcome BJP’s influence.
The CPI has pledged full support to all Congress candidates in Telangana, while the CPI (M) has declared its backing for candidates in all but one of the 17 constituencies.
In Khammam, Communist Party of India’s Telangana Secretary, Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, criticized the Congress, branding them as immature and urging them to adopt a more strategic approach in forming alliances to combat the BJP’s rising influence. Rao emphasized the necessity for the Congress to adhere to “alliance dharma,” stressing that unity among ideologically aligned parties is crucial to thwart the BJP’s divisive tactics, which he characterized as exploiting religious sentiments for electoral gains.
“BJP is spreading its influence across the nation under the guise of Lord Ram’s name. It’s imperative for any democratic party to uphold the principles of alliance dharma to counter a theocratic party like the BJP. In light of this, the Congress must demonstrate wisdom by forging alliances with parties sharing similar ideologies,” Sambasiva Rao asserted in an interview with ANI.
Echoing this sentiment, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has pledged unwavering support to all Congress candidates in Telangana. Similarly, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has extended its support to candidates in all but one of the 17 constituencies in the state.
Despite repeated appeals from the Congress leadership, the CPI(M) has decided to contest independently in the Bhongir Lok Sabha constituency. The decision aims to avoid potential vote division and ensure a more consolidated opposition against the BJP.
The upcoming polling on May 13 for all 17 seats in Telangana marks the fourth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. With the political landscape in flux, parties are intensifying efforts to garner support and form strategic alliances to maximize their electoral prospects.
In the 2019 polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made significant inroads in Telangana, securing four seats. However, it was the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) that emerged as the dominant force, clinching nine seats. The Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) trailed behind, securing three and one seats, respectively.
As the political dynamics evolve and the stakes remain high, parties are navigating complex alliances and electoral strategies to consolidate their support base and emerge victorious in the upcoming polls. With alliances playing a pivotal role in shaping electoral outcomes, the Congress faces mounting pressure to navigate these alliances strategically and effectively to counter the BJP’s growing influence in Telangana and beyond.