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One of India's two main communist groups joined the country's centre-left coalition government, giving them their first taste of power at the federal level since independence in 1947.

The Communist Party of India decided to join the 13-party United Front government headed by Prime Minister Deve Gowda. No major ideological shift is expected in the government as a result of communist participation, politicians say.

Deve Gowda has signalled he will go ahead with free-market policies that he is known to favour. Reuter - New Delhi