Non-Congress secular parties coming together: Prakash Karat

A policy of broader cooperation, coupled with loose coordination, to cobble up an alliance of non-Congress secular parties ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls is what the Left hopes for, CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said here Saturday.

Karat spelt out the strategy of his Communist Party of India-Marxist, as well as of the Left, at this Kerala city Saturday while addressing reporters.

"The Congress and its allies are incapable of containing Narendra Modi and the BJP. This can be done only by a non-Congress secular combination of forces and on Oct 30 last year, 14 political parties came together on a platform in Delhi. In three weeks, a broad framework will be ready," Karat said.

He pointed out that in 1989, with V.P.Singh at the helm, and in 1996, when H.D. Deva Gowda became prime minister, the alliance was formed after the elections.

"What we are trying this time is that in three weeks, an electoral alliance will be formed. We are working on broader cooperation and loose coordination, so that after the elections, we will be able to come together quickly to keep the BJP out. The Congress is fighting for its survival, and is in no position to form a government," Karat said.