Notwithstanding the bitter ties between Left parties and the  Congress, the RJD today claimed that the CPI(M) would be "compelled" to join ranks with UPA to keep communal forces at bay.

RJD leader and union minister Lalu Prasad, however, evaded a direct reply when asked if such a possibility would involve his being projected as Prime Ministerial candidate.

"He (CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat [Images]) will be compelled" to come to UPA to keep away "communal and fascist forces", Prasad told Times Now channel.

When pointed out that Karat had recently emphasised that he will not support a Congress-led government, Prasad suggested that such a statement could have been made because of CPI(M)'s electoral compulsions as the two parties are bitter rivals in West Bengal and Kerala [Images].

"How can they (commit anything now when) elections are approaching? Both the parties (Cong and Left) are fighting
 against each other in Kerala and West Bengal," the RJD leader noted.

"We will sit together one day," he said.