Hyderabad: Signaling new political alignments ahead of elections, the CPI today said it would join hands with United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) partners, including TDP, to fight against the price rise and anti-people economic policies of the UPA government.

"Our party Congress has already decided to launch a militant action against public issues and a similar decision is likely to be taken by CPI(M). I gather UNPA is also thinking in terms of some action. We will cooperate in all this," party general secretary A B Bardhan said here today.

He was talking to reporters after a breakfast meeting with UNPA convener and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu. Describing Naidu as an "old friend", Bardhan, whose party had contested the 2004 state Assembly elections in alliance with Congress, said, "We had worked together for several years in the United Front days. Now, we are fighting on people's issues. We are planning a very big agitation against price rise."

Taking time off from the deliberations at the party's 20th National Congress, the CPI leaders -- Bardhan, D Raja, Gurudas Dasgupta, S Sudhakar Reddy and state secretary Narayana -- met Naidu at his Jubilee Hills residence.

The leaders of the two parties discussed the political situation prevailing in the country and the issues over which a common struggle could be planned in future.

Later, Naidu said his party was looking forward to a "long term association" with the Left parties based on issues concerning the common man.
Source : PTI