The electoral alliance between the YSR Congress (YSRCP) and CPM is almost in climax and will be declared in two days as both parties want to fight elections jointly in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The central CPM leaders are also willing for the alliance so as to form a third front. The basic talks have been completed but the number of seats that each party would contest in the two states is yet to be finalised. The alliance will be finalised once YSRCP president Jaganmohan Reddy returns to Hyderabad on Friday and holds talks with state leaders of the Left party, said sources.
The senior YSRCP leader YV Subba Reddy met Jagan in Srikakulam and told him about the pressure from the CPM to finalise the seat sharing at least in Telangana. The CPM is seeking five Lok Sabha and 22 Assembly constituencies in Telangana but after Jagan flatly turned down the demand, the Left party is willing to settle for three Lok Sabha and 17 Assembly seats in Telangana. The CPM asked for the Bhongir, Nalgonda and Khammam Lok Sabha seats, but YSRCP is not willing to concede the Khammam seat as it had already announced P Srinivas Reddy as its candidate there.
In Andhra Pradesh, CPM state secretary Penumalli Madhu also expressed willingness to go for an alliance with the YSRCP provided the latter is ready to share seats based on the party's original strength. In the Seemandhra region, the CPM has already joined hands with the Jagan party for the ZPTC, MPTC and municipal elections in several districts. This has further cemented their friendship as both parties have gained considerably with their votes.
