Ranchi: CPI on Thursday announced former MP and party’s state secretary Bhubneshwar Mehta as its candidate for Hazaribag . It also nominated Senpati Murmu from Dumka constituency. The party said it may put up a candidate at Chatra , and a decision in this regard will be taken soon.Top leaders of CPI, including national secretary Ramendra Kumar, held a meeting on Thursday to chalk out the party’s strategy for the elections.While addressing media persons at CPI office in Ranchi, Mehta blamed the Congress for keeping the Left out of mahagathbandhan and accused the grand old party of being bogged down by the pressure brought on it by corporate houses.“The JMM and JVM-P were in favour of giving Hazaribag seat to CPI. Congress put up a condition that Left parties should keep away from Koderma , knowing fully well that CPI-ML , which finished second in the constituency in the last general elections, would fight from the seat. Although JVM-P candidate from Koderma, Babulal Marandi , did not object to CPI-ML’s decision to fight from the seat, Congress used it as a reason to keep the Left out,” Mehta said.He added, “Despite mahagathbandhan partners, including JMM and JVM-P, expressing their willingness to keep Left parties on board, the Congress remains adamant. If the mahagathbandhan decides to give Hazaribag to us, we could re-consider our decision to fight from other seats,” Mehta said.It may be noted here that CPI-ML has declared its candidates from Koderma and Palamu seats, while CPM is fighting from Rajmahal . The Marxist Coordination Committee could soon take a call on contesting from Dhanbad seat.

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