CHENNAI: CPI state secretary M Veerapandian on Monday said “horse-trading” of MLAs was taking place in Tamil Nadu and that it must be stopped for the welfare of the state.Veerapandian told TOI that the Left parties would contest the forthcoming rural local body elections on its own to test its organisational strength. The Left was prepared to adopt the same strategy in future elections if political circumstances warranted it, he said. The party, however, was yet to decide whether to contest in the upcoming byelections in TN. A decision would be made based on the prevailing situation closer to the polls, he said.“Horse-trading is happening now. You and I are witnesses to it. We are seeing it unfold before our eyes. There is nothing to hide. This culture has gradually spread to Tamil Nadu from north Indian states. It must be stopped because it is not good for the state,” Veerapandian said. He alleged that ‘those in power’ resort to such practices to protect their political interests and remain in office.“People vote for a party in good faith. If MLAs switch sides even before the ink on the fingers of voters has faded, it is a betrayal of the people’s mandate. It is a crisis for democracy and violates political ethics,” he said and added that the Left opposed horse-trading regardless of whether it involved the ruling party or the opposition.Calling the people the ultimate custodians of democracy, Veerapandian said they held the “whip” and would punish those resorting to such anti-democratic practices. “They cannot escape the people’s verdict,” he said.Though CPI extended outside support to the TVK govt, Veerapandian said the Left Front, comprising CPI, CPM and CPI (ML) intended to retain its independent political identity.“We have organisational strength and supporters across the state. We will contest the rural local body elections on our own to test our strength. We are ready for it,” he said.He did not rule out the possibility of the front contesting the next election independently if political circumstances demanded it, but said the Left parties would review the prevailing political situation before taking a final call.Veerapandian said the Left front’s outside support to the TVK govt was not for chief minister C Joseph Vijay or his party, but to uphold the people’s mandate and prevent governor’s rule.“We decided to support the govt to protect democracy without compromising our ideology. We have no intention of destabilising the govt or arm-twisting it. We will not put pressure on the govt, but will continue to support democratic values while raising issues that concern the people,” he said.On Vijay’s speech in Karur, Veerapandian said the govt was still in “election” mode.“We want the chief minister to refrain from speeches and gestures that go against democratic values. The same applies to leaders of the opposition,” he said, adding that former chief minister M K Stalin had always maintained political maturity and displayed statesmanship.
