Left Leaders For Secular Front With Congress
However, there has been no formal discussion of this yet and it would be very difficult for the CPI(M) to accept an arrangement with the party it is primarily pitted against in each of its strongholds, West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura.
Those leaders who would welcome a political relationship say the Congress's policies could change now in a way that would match the policies and programmes of the Left and other regional parties.
After all, they add, the Congress is the only secular party with an all-India presence.
The Congress has already approved the United Front's common minimum programme and now it should work out in detail all the policy matters with the UF constituents, a senior CPI leader said.
He added that that was the only way left for the Congress to revive itself.
He added that the Congress on the one hand and the Left and regional parties on the other should learn to have a more positive attitude towards each other in the states.
CPI national secretary M Farooqui, however, was more cautious, saying it was premature to rush to any such conclusion.
He, however, called the Congress minus Rao a good party and said it might lead to the flourishing of a democratic culture in such an important party like the Congress.
CPI(M) politbureau member S Ramachandran Pillai said the recent development in the Congress would not pose any threat to the government.