Kolkata: The CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) today (Apr 13, 2004) said that after the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections the Left parties would jointly discuss whether a "Third Front" or any other national alternative to National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-led BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) or Congress could be formed.

Stating this, the CPM Politburo member Anil Biswas told reporters in Kolkata that whatever decision was to be taken in this regard in the post-poll scenario would be based on the mutual consultations among the left parties in West Bengal and elsewhere in the country.

"There would be no problem among the Leftists to arrive at a decision in this regard. In the past also there were differences of opinion among the Left parties on certain issues but those were solved through discussions," said Biswas, who is the state secretary of the CPM.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

Biswas said this amid a claim by a top leader of the RSP Debabrata Bandyopadhyya today that "considering the not too good prospects of the Congress in the forthcoming elections vis-a-vis NDA alliance, CPM is of late becoming critical of Congress and is thinking afresh on giving support to it in the post-poll scenario."

While Biswas did not comment anything on RSP leader's remark, Bandyopadhyya, who is the secretary of the state RSP said if the left parties could win 60 to 65 seats it would work as a catalyst towards formation of a Third Front as an alternative to the Congress and the BJP.

Ruling out RSP's support to Congress to form a Government after the elections, he said economic policies of Congress and BJP were the same.