CPM Objects to Praveen Chakravarty Linking Party to New Tamil Nadu Alliance

CHENNAI — The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly objected to statements made by Congress functionary Praveen Chakravarty, who linked the party to a newly claimed political alliance. On Friday, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam condemned a social media post by Chakravarty that claimed the CPM was part of the 'Tamil Nadu Social Justice Progressive Front.'

The controversy arose after Chakravarty posted on social media that he had been chosen as the first MP candidate of the purported alliance. In his post, Chakravarty listed the alliance as comprising the TVK, Congress, VCK, IUML, CPI, and the CPM. He wrote that he considered the selection 'a matter of pride and great responsibility.'

In the same post, Chakravarty expressed gratitude to Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay for reposing faith in his candidature.

However, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam issued a sharp clarification, describing the Congress functionary's social media post as a 'transgression.' Shanmugam denied any involvement of the CPM in the alleged front or in Chakravarty's nomination.

'It is incorrect to state that he has been nominated as the Rajya Sabha candidate on behalf of a new alliance, and to include the CPI(M)’s name in it,' Shanmugam stated.

The CPM leader further clarified that the party had not been involved in any discussions regarding such a coalition. According to Shanmugam, no political representatives had approached or consulted the CPM about forming this alliance or supporting Chakravarty’s candidature for the Rajya Sabha.

Addressing the party's broader political alignment, Shanmugam noted that the CPM's stance is already public. 'On what basis the Marxist Communist Party extended support to the TVK to form the govt has already been clearly stated,' Shanmugam said, distancing the party from Chakravarty's claims of a new alliance.