For the Left, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls are a bigger challenge than Lok Sabha polls. Little wonder that the CPI and CPI(M) are meeting in Hyderabad on January 28 to thrash pre-poll strategy. While the CPI’s under pressure to take a second look at its proposed alliance with the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS), CPI(M)’s Andhra unit does want any truck with Congress. The fact that there are few takers for Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s plan of launching the anti-TDP/BJP alliance, was evident when senior CPI(M) politburo member Prakash Karat said: ‘‘We are not in any front. We will discuss what campaign strategy should be. And a statewise evaluation of our position and the national level tactics.’’ Karat said: ‘‘We have taken a decision not to support TRS. It is up to the CPI whether they will go along with a separate Telangana state.’’
