Kolkata: CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) politburo member and party's State secretary Anil Biswas today (Sep 13, 2004) flayed the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government for deviating from the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), but remained non-committal on how long his party would support the Government.

"We want that the UPA Government stays in power and work in accordance with the CMP. They will be answerable to people, if they deviate from the CMP. The stability of the Government depended on implementing the CMP," he told reporters at the state party headquarters in Kolkata.

Asked how long they would observe the performance of the Manmohan Singh Government, he said, "Support does not depend on days and time".

"Our support to the UPA Government is on the basis of policies. The CMP is a Congress prepared document and not that of the Left parties. Of late, some of the Government's policies had clearly deviated from the CMP. The stability of the Government depended on implementing the assurances given in CMP", Biswas said without elaborating.

Responding to another question, he said, "We want that the Government survives and work in accordance with the CMP. The deviation from CMP means deviating from pre-election pledges", he said.

Asked what his party would do if the UPA Government did not implement the CMP in letter and spirit, Biswas asked, "Why should we presuppose that they would not implement the programmes in the first place?''

Asked to comment on the possibility of forming a Third Front, he said that it did not merely depend on his party, but the combined initiatives by parties including non-Congress ones who are presently partners of the UPA alliance. "It also depended on the realities".

On Manipur situation, he said his party wanted quick resolution of the problem.

Asked about the party's stand on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, he said, "This has been discussed in the party. It would be declared at appropriate time."