Wednesday, April 20 2005 09:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: The Communist Party of India (CPI) is keen on floating of a non-Congress front to take on the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition in Orissa comprising left and democratic parties, party general secretary A B Bardhan said yesterday (Apr 19, 2005).

The front would comprise four parties - CPI, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), Janata Dal Secular (JDS) and Orissa Gana Parishad (OGP), he told media persons in Bhubaneswar.

"We, however, welcome any other democratic or Left outfit to join the front," Bardhan said.

The front was not being floated with an eye on elections, which were far-off, but to take up different issues relating to the struggles of the people.

He also clarified that the CPI had extended its support to the OGP candidate Gopal Chandra Pradhan in the April 21 by-election in the Sundargarh Assembly constituency.

Bardhan, who was in Bhubaneswar to attend the party's two-day State executive and the State council meetings, said the CPI had decided to launch a weeklong agitation all over Orissa to focus on several issues.

The issues to be taken up included the implementation of the food for work programme being undertaken in several districts, employment guarantee scheme and distribution of land to the tribals, Dalits and landless people, he said.