New Delhi: In a significant development, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today (Dec 30, 2003) met Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPM) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet, after which he said her proposal for "one front" was not possible but they would join forces to fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Lok Sabha polls.

"She spoke of one front. That may not be possible at this stage because there are lots of differences. Whoever is with them (Congress) will unite with them and we (Left parties) will also be in a position to forge a broad unity with them to defeat the BJP," Surjeet said after Gandhi went to his residence and had a 45-minute meeting with him.

On the issue of leadership of the secular front and Prime Ministership, Surjeet said there was no discussion on the issue. "She has already made her and her party's position clear on the issue through statements and there is nothing new," he said.

The veteran Marxist said both of them decided to forge unity among secular and Democratic parties to defeat BJP in the general elections.

"All parties which want to strengthen national unity must come together to defeat the BJP...there may be two fronts - one led by Congress and (the other) the Left parties. These two fronts may come together in the elections with the common aim of defeating the BJP," he said.