CPI-M seeks common minimum policy-based alternative front

Veteran Marxist leader and former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Saturday ridiculed the federal front mooted by the Trinamool Congress and said an alternative front should be based on common minimum programme and policies.

"An alternative front must focus on policies regarding internal security, foreign policy, land, employment, education among other things. It should be based on common minimum programme and policies," said the Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member.

Bhattacharjee called Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee's mooted federal front as "no alternative".

Banerjee has called for the unification of all regional parties as opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress.

Observing that Congress' position in the country was currently "shaky", Bhattacharjee said the Left too was working on forging an alternative front although it was difficult owing to the divergent political ideologies of various parties.