The CPI on Monday announced that it would enter into a tie-up with main opposition TDP for Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh scheduled to be held early next year, saying that the main objective of such an alliance was to defeat the ruling Congress.

The announcement came from CPI state secretary K Narayana after the conclusion of the two-day state executive of the party. “Our aim is to defeat Congress. For that, we need to forge a strong poll alliance. Hence, the tie-up with TDP,” Narayana told reporters.

The executive earlier endorsed the alliance with the main opposition. A resolution to this effect was moved by Narayana. The defeat of Congress, building a third alternative at national level, strengthening Left unity and preventing “communal forces” from coming to power formed the main agenda of the party, he said. The CPI(M) has already indicated its decision to sail with TDP in the coming elections. There are also efforts to rope in Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) into the alliance of the opposition.