Friday, August 26 2005 16:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said today (Aug 26, 2005) forging a third front at the Central level is not on the immediate agenda of his party but said the left outfit is working towards such an alternative in the future.

"As for a third front, it's not on the immediate agenda, as far as we are concerned; (but) we are working towards realisation of a third alternative in the future", Karat told a press conference in Bangalore.

CPI-M would keep in touch with all the forces with whom it had cooperated in the past keeping in mind that there is relevance for third front in the country, he said, adding, but right now, that's not on the agenda.

Asked if his party, which extends crucial support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government from outside, anticipates early elections to Lok Sabha, Karat said there is no such possibility. "UPA Government will remain because we are there to support it. That's a guarantee".

CPI-M, he said, decided to support the Government based on a policy framework and certain political understanding.

"We have differences in policies and that's why we are not in Government", Karat said.

"But we are supporting the Government because of certain political understanding. We don't want Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and communal forces to gain and have an opportunity to come back. We are successfully isolating them".

He said CPI-M's political understanding is that it would like the secular Government to continue at the Centre.

"We will have policy differences but we will work towards resolving those differences. Where we differ, we will go to the people, mobilise them and explain our position. This is our approach".