CPI (M) not to be part of �mahagathbandhan�: Prakash Karat

Politburo member favours state-specific alliance of secular parties

Jamshedpur: CPI (M) politburo member and former party general secretary Prakash Karat on Monday cleared that their party will not be a part of �mahagathbandhan� � a coalition of opposition parties formed to defeat Modi-led BJP Government in the 2019 general elections.

The senior leader who was in city to address a function to mark bi-centenary celebration of legendary socialist leader Karl Marx, at Bistupur-based Michael John Auditorium, interacting with media prior to the function at NirmalBhawan, ruled out any possibility of joining the grand alliance of opposition parties.

�Let me clear that we will not be a part of the �mahagathbandhan� as our party feel that coalition of parties at the national level is not possible. However, we will support it from outside after the election to keep the BJP from power as we had done to Congress in 2004,� said Karat.

It may be mentioned that in view of the Lok Sabha polls, leaders of 22 opposition parties came together at a mega rally at Kolkata recently and declared to unitedly fight to oust the Modi government .The CPI(M)-led Left Front which too was invited for the opposition rally decided to give it a miss.

When questioned about regional alliance, the CPI( M) leader, however, said that state-specific alliance of secular parties will help to fight BJP.

�We are of the opinion that state-specific alliance of like-minded secular parties who are able to fight BJP will be much feasible and more practical. We welcome the alliance of BSP- SP in Uttar Pradesh and are trying to forge a similar alliance of anti-BJP and anti-TMC parties in Bengal,� said Karat.

When asked about the Prime Minister candidate amongst the alliance partners, Karat said, � They will abide by the constitution as it states that elected leaders of Lok Sabha will decide the Prime Minister and our party believes that Prime Minister should be decided only on the basis of the election result.�

The senior CPM leader called for the ouster of the Narendra Modi government. He said that the national mood has shifted and public discourse getting focussed around real issues of jobless growth, agricultural distress and the disastrous impact of this government�s anti-poor policies. The Left has been part of a sustained struggle on farmers� issues across the country and we now see that voters� mood has changed. The BJP will, of course, try to bend it around non-issues aimed at achieving nothing but communal polarisation.