Prakash Karat to hunt for allies

While maintaining that “Third Front” is out of question, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM) batted for an alliance of Left democratic parties and other non-Congress, non-BJP parties.

“It will not be a third front electoral alliance. But we will work to mobilise a Left and democratic alternative against the existing order, with co-operation from non-Congress, secular parties,” the CPIM general secretary Prakash Karat told the media after a four-day Central Committee meeting here on Friday.

However, which are the likely alliance partners that the CPIM is looking at, Karat said that already there are certain democratic groups with whom the party is in talks with regarding certain policy issues and hinted about bringing them under a common platform.

“Apart from Left Front another four parties are generally working and cooperating with us — Biju Janata Dal (BJD), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Janata Dal(S) and Telugudesam Party (TDS). In certain issues like a strike against price rise in 2010, 11 parties joined us — including Samajwadi Party and RJD. A decision on an electoral alliance with them in the 2014 elections is too early to say. For example, depending on where do these parties stand after the Uttar Pradesh elections and all,” he said.

The four-day Central committee meeting has covered several issues like coming up with a finalised draft of its political and ideological resolutions. The finalised draft will be submitted for discussions within the party and will be available for public opinion by the end of this month. The draft resolutions would be tabled at the 20th party congress to be held at Kozhikodu in Kerala from April 4-9.

Lashes out at Mamata and Mayawati
Expressing concerns of the increasing number of farmer suicides in West Bengal, Karat said, “The Trinamool Congress-led government’s failure to administer and deliver has affected the most poorest. In the last few days, the state has seen about 24 farmer suicides. This is because the new government has dismantled the earlier procurement machinery. Even there have been nine starvation deaths in tea gardens. Schemes like MNREGS and even the PDS have become worst.”

Maintaining the same stance against the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh, he said, “BSP also has a record of misrule and they are snatching land from farmers.”

Ups heat on UPA regarding Lokpal and FDI
The party Central Committee has also decided to mobilise people against the UPA government’s policy issues — including Lokpal and FDI.

While demanding the government to bring an amended Lokpal during the Budget session of the Parliament, the CPM general secretary said, “We will mobilise the voice of people against these issues. For example, after the opposition on FDI in retail, the government suspended it and soon increased FDI in single-brand retail to 100 per cent. We are against the foreign players in retail sector.”