Patna: The CPI (Communist Party of India) today (Oct 24, 2004) called for a strong alliance by secular parties and ''effective and greater'' unity among the Left and progressive forces for the coming Assembly poll in Bihar to score a victory over the alliance headed by the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party).

CPI State secretary Badri Narayan Lal, described as ''unfortunate'' the reported statement of the CPI-ML (Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist) that the former was playing ''a stooge'' of the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal)-Congress combine by showing its inclination to align with them during the Assembly poll due early next year.

He said his party would certainly explore the possibility of firming up an alliance of secular parties, including the ruling RJD to inflict a crushing defeat on the BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) in the Assembly elections.

Lal said the State executive committee of the CPI would meet in Patna on November 23 and 24 to chalk out the strategy for the Assembly elections and explore the possibilities of how to put up a united fight by the secular parties against the BJP and JDU (Janata Dal United).

Calling upon the like-minded parties to work for installation of ''a progressive and secular'' Government in Bihar, the CPI leader said ''the secular and democratic forces have been strengthened by the defeat of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra.

''The Maharashtra results symbolise people's rejection of the communal agenda of the saffron party. Now we need to further consolidate the gains made by the secular forces by defeating the communal elements in the Assembly elections in Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana,'' he said.