CPI opts out of Pudukottai race

CHENNAI: The CPI on Thursday announced that the party will not be contesting the ensuing by-election to the Pudukottai Assembly seat.In a release, CPI state secretary D Pandian said that the decision was taken at the party executive council meeting held in Chennai.The seat fell vacant due to the demise of CPI MLA SP Muthukumaran.“Though the party had the moral right to field its candidate, the decision was taken as the party which led the alliance in 2011 had arbitrarily declared its candidate,” Pandian said. Meanwhile, The PMK will not contest the June 12 bypoll, party founder S Ramadoss said on Thursday.