Pawar to join Left, BJD leaders in Orissa rally

Will share stage with Karat, Naveen Patnaik on April 3.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar may have signed a pre-poll deal with the Congress in Maharashtra, but in Orissa he will jointly campaign with the CPI(M), CPI and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. While the BJD’s political stand is vehemently anti-Congress, the CPI(M) has vowed to install a non-Congress, non-BJP secular alternative government at the Centre after the general elections.

Pawar will share stage with CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI boss AB Bardhan and Orissa Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on April 3 in Bhubneshwar.

“The alliance of CPI(M), CPI, BJD and NCP will address a joint meeting. According to our information, these leaders will be present in that meeting,” CPI(M) Central Committee member Nilotpal Basu told Business Standard.

The CPI(M), however, insists that this arrangement is strictly confined to Orissa where the three parties — CPI(M), CPI and NCP — jumped into action a few weeks ago to rescue the Naveen Patnaik government after the Orissa chief minister abruptly snapped ties with the BJP. The CPI(M), CPI and the NCP have one MLA each in the state Assembly.

CPI(M) sources point out that this rally will not only showcase the fragile condition of the Congress-led UPA but will also endorse the Left’s theory that more realignment of political forces will take place after the polls. Karat and other Left leaders are hopeful of forming an alternative government on the basis of this possible realignment of forces.

Patnaik and these three parties have also entered into a pre-poll seat adjustment for Orissa where the Assembly elections will be held along with the Lok Sabha polls. According to the deal, the CPI, CPI(M) and NCP will get one Lok Sabha seat each from Patnaik. The BJD will give five seats to the CPI and four to the CPI(M) in the Assembly contest.

While the CPI(M) earlier dumped leaders like Lalu Prasad of the RJD for being a part of the UPA, it sees no problem in sharing platform with Pawar, who has joined hands with the Congress in Maharashtra. “We don’t see any problem. This is because the Congress itself has said there is no UPA at the national level. Moreover, the NCP in Orissa has taken a stand contrary to the Congress’ recent position. While the Congress demanded President’s Rule and dismissal of the Naveen Patnaik government, the NCP helped the BJD government win the trust vote and stay in power. In the context of Orissa, there is a commonality of approach between the NCP and Left parties,” Basu explains.

NCP emissaries earlier held a few meetings with the top brass of the CPI(M) and the CPI. According to sources in the CPI(M), Pawar was exploring the possibilities of Left support in case he emerges as a candidate for the prime minister’s post after the elections. The Left too, has not rejected this possibility. Top Left sources maintain if the non-Congress, non-BJP alternative comes to power, the prime minister candidate will be decided through consultations and consensus.