Third alternative gathers momentum, says Karat
NEW DELHI (March 16, 2009): Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said on Monday the party envisaged more realignment of political forces and its effort to forge a third alternative had gathered momentum.
Taking a dig at the Congress and the BJP leaders for attacking the Third Front, he said: “we have not used the word Third Front; they are popularising it.”
Addressing a press conference after releasing the party manifesto, he pointed out BJP leader L.K. Advani said the Third Front was “impractical and unworkable,” while Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee observed that he did not understand the front.
“By the end of the elections, he [Mr. Mukherjee] will also understand,” Mr. Karat said. Nine parties were together on Sunday because there was need for a non-Congress, non-BJP alternative.
Mr. Karat said the four Left parties have seat-sharing arrangements with different political parties in different States. On Sunday, all came together to discuss alternative policies. In the past, fronts were formed after elections, he pointed out.
Since last year, the CPI(M) was clear that the BSP would go it alone. Just as the nine political parties that came together with the objective of having a non-Congress, non-BJP alternative, the BSP too wanted the Congress and the BJP defeated. “We hope the Third Front will emerge after the elections,” he said.
Asked whether the CPI(M) would join the government, he said if such a situation arose, the Central Committee would discuss and decide.
On the AIADMK, he said the CPI(M) was in constant touch with its chief Jayalalithaa. Even the joint statement of Sunday was sent for her approval before its release.
The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha of Babulal Marandi had sent a letter expressing solidarity with the parties striving for a third alternative.
“I have always favoured a non-NDA, non-UPA government at the Centre and assure you that after the Lok Sabha elections, my party will cooperate with all of you,” Mr. Marandi said in the letter to TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, who invited him for the Sunday meeting.
The Haryana Jan Hit party too wanted to associate with the new arrangement, he said.
