Fresh from confabulations with AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa, CPI top leader A B Bardhan sees another opportunity for the Left parties to play a more effective role at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections next year.
The four Left parties - CPI, CPI(M), RSP and Forward Bloc- kept the Congress-led UPA government stable at the Centre for four years from May 2004, before they withdrew support on Indo-US civil nuclear agreement.
"'I am quite sure that Jayalalithaa's association with the Left will not only benefit her and the Left parties but also the government at the Centre which will be neither of the UPA nor the NDA," Bardhan told UNI.
Also pitching for the non-Congress and non-BJP led government at the Centre, Nilotpal Basu of CPI(M) said the UPA has lost people's trust because of its "failed" economy policies, while BJP's anti-terror plank stood shattered with the exposure of alleged involvement of some saffron outfits in the Malegaon blast.
CPI deputy general secretary S Sudharkar Reddy said Bardhan and himself held a meeting with the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister at her residence in Chennai on November 19.
Asked if the Left could also hope for support from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati to their proposed Third alternative, Reddy said she has been supportive of this effort, adding Telugu Desam Party would also be a part of the Third Front.
Former prime minister H D Devegowda, too, has been exploring the possibility of a Third Front as an alternative to non-Congress and non-BJP formation at the Centre. He had also discussed the issue with Jayalalithaa, Reddy added.
Bardhan said, "We want a government which listen to demands of the Left parties.. New government must review and discontinue present economic policies which have brought disaster to the country's economy."
Sounding reconcilliatory with the Congress, he said people might be disillusioned with it for its pro-US line, BJP can not take advantage as it had also been pursuing similar polices towards the United States.
Recalling the role played by regional parties in forming the non-Congress and non-BJP governments in 1989 and 1996-97, the CPI veteran urged them not to "travel between Congress and BJP," cautioning them that by this way, the parties will only lose their credibility and maneauverability in the formation of next government.
Reverting to his meeting with Ms Jayalalithaa, Bardhan said it was positive.'' Whatever differences were there have been sorted out, particularly those pertaining to employees...she has made more than ample amends..I think she has already benefitted from this experience.'' Rubbishing BJP for not playing the role of the Opposition, Basu charged it with not having opposed the UPA government's attempts at integrating the country's financial system with the Western world.'' It is largely because of the Left that India's financial system has withstood to some extent the impact of global meltdown,'' he stated.
On price rise front too, people know that BJP had also pursued the same policies which led to surge in food prices.
The Marxist leader alleged that UPA government's reluctance to roll back rise prices of petroleum products has also contributed to rise in the price of food items. Even as that the inflation is down, the common man is facing hardships on account of high food prices.
Condemning BJP's hypocritical stand on battle against terrorism, Basu said the party's attempt to link terror with a particular community, now stood exposed with investigation into the September Malegon blast. The probe has revealed involvement of saffron forces in the terror act, he added.
The former Rajya Sabha member ruled out return of the UPA government in the next general elections, claiming it has lost people's trust on account of its dismal performance on the economic front.
But he declined to divulge details of proposed formation of the Third Front, saying it was premature at this stage.
