CPI for maintaining seat-sharing with CPI(M), CPI-ML

The CPI today said it would maintain the seat-sharing accord with CPI(M) and CPI-ML (Liberation) for contesting the by-poll in 17 Bihar assembly constituencies and elections to the 24 seats in the Legislative council.

CPI state committee, which met here yesterday, took a decision to this effect, a party release said today.

By-poll will be held in 17 seats in the state assembly which are vacant after the sitting MLAs resigned following their elections to the Lok Sabha, the release said.

The CPI together with CPI-M and CPI-ML fought elections to 33 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, but they drew a blank.

The meeting felt that state's development was not possible unless land reforms were implemented and base of agro-based industries and cottage and small industries was expanded, it said.