Kolkata: Raking up the issue of an alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, veteran Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPM) leader Jyoti Basu on February 26 mooted the idea of a broad-based "National Platform" of Left and secular forces before the next Parliamentary elections.

"If Congress wants it can also join in such a combine," the former West Bengal Chief Minister told reporters after addressing a rally of different Leftist trade unions at the sprawling Brigade Parade Ground.

Basu, however, did not comment when asked whether the proposed alliance would be on the lines of the "People's Front" floated in the last Parliamentary polls.

The alliance was necessary for purposes of a broad-based unity to launch sustained agitations for the ouster of the NDA government at the Centre, which was pursuing "anti-people, anti-labour and anti-national economic policies", he said.

It was necessary to intensify agitations to oppose the "attempts" of the BJP and sangh parivar, who he alleged were not serious to remove the economic ills facing the country but were shifting focus to divide the country along religious lines by raising the bogey of hindutva with an eye on the next general elections.

PTI