Left Prefers Mid-Term Polls To Congress Joining Uf Govt

The Left parties feel that the recent attack by the Congress is part of its gameplan to join the United Front government after isolating them within the coalition. But the Left parties would prefer a mid-term election to letting the Congress join the coalition.

Left parties have already initiated the process of inner-party consultations to gear up for a mid-term poll. The CPI national executive will meet on July 14-15 and the CPI(M) politbureau is expected to meet in the first week of August, just after the party is through with its fortnight-long national campaign against the UF governments economic policies.

What is worrying them is the proximity of Prime Minister IK Gujral with Congress president Sitaram Kesri, and Gujrals lack of firmness to deal with various cases of corruption.

The purpose behind the formation of the United Front was that it will be an alternative to the rule we have had so far. We never wanted it to be as opportunistic as the previous regimes. If things continue like this we will definitely have to do something. This may include a serious review of support, a CPI(M) politbureau member said.

Gujrals handling of the Janata Dal crisis has baffled the Left parties. Just because Laloo Prasad Yadav is a popular leader we cannot tolerate any nonsense from him. Gujral is free to hold a view about the entry of the RJD in the Front or the continuation of three ministers owing allegiance to the RJD. But he should not make them public before ascertaining the views of the steering committee, a Left MP said.

The Left parties feel Kesris exertions are intended to finally join the government. Asked if the Congress were trying to destabilise the Front, CPI(M) general secretary HS Surjeet said: I will not say that. But the Congress is definitely upto to something. The Congress is definitely playing some role.

CPI general secretary AB Bardhan explained Kesris attack on Left parties by saying: The Left parties have consistently fought against the Congress and the communal forces.

Surjeet, however, hoped that all this will spell doom for the Congress. The Congress would be the worst sufferer if the United Front preferred to go for mid-term elections, Surjeet observed.

However, Surjeets Left colleagues do not share his optimism. They feel the country is heading for a polarisation of the Congress and its allies on the one hand, and the BJP and its allies on the other. And the Left parties may be left with only the Telugu Desam. Asom Gana Parishad and the DMK, the politbureau member said.

In the north, anti-BJP parties will not mind joining hands with the Congress. In the south anti-Congressism is strong, regional parties may join hands with the BJP, he observed.