Tuesday, February 1 2005 12:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bolpur (WB): Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday (Jan 31, 2005) said that the CPM (Communist Party of India Marxist) supported the Congress-led coalition Government at the Centre to keep the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) at bay as it had no strength or capacity to counter the saffron party alone.

"BJP is not strong where CPM is strong. CPM is not strong where BJP is strong. CPM support to us is because of its political compulsions as it alone has no strength or capacity to counter the BJP," Mukherjee told a party rally in Bolpur.

He made it clear there was no contradiction in the Congress and CPM understanding at the Centre, while the party was fighting a political battle against the Marxists in the Left ruled States of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura.

He said, "We must analyse the reason behind our taking support of the CPM at the Centre. Democracy came under threat with the BJP coming to power in New Delhi. It is because of this that the CPM extended support to us at the national level. But the CPM had neither real intention to challenge BJP nor the capacity to do so."