Ahead of LS, Left hints at emergence of an alternative combo

The non-Congress, non-BJP parties would announce a "common approach" on February 5

Dismissing the formation of a Third Front, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said here today that about 10 non-Congress, non-BJP parties are willing to come together for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to provide a viable alternative.

"There is no Front as such. Nobody has talked about a Third Front. What we are trying to bring about is a combination of the non-Congress, non-BJP parties. After the elections, whether we will give it some concrete shape, that will depend on the election results. But we will cooperate for the Lok Sabha elections. That is being worked out, how exactly we will cooperate," he told reporters here.

The non-Congress, non-BJP parties would announce a "common approach" on February five, the first day of the coming Parliament session, as a precursor to the emergence of the alternative combination of parties, he said.

"One step in that is for this Parliament session, some of these parties are going to meet and announce on February five, on the first day of Parliament, their common approach as far as the Parliament session is concerned.

"For example, UPA wants to push through many other legislations. We don't think it is advisable. Because, normally the convention is the last session is only for an vote-on-account. But they want to bring in many other issues. On all those matters, these parties will announce a common stand," he said.

The AIADMK, JD(U), JD(S), BJD, Samajwadi Party and the Left are likely to be part of the non-Congress, non-BJP coalition, he said.

"Well, I have been out of Delhi for the last few days, I am travelling. I mentioned some of those parties. I said AIADMK, BJD, JD(U), Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (Secular) and the Left parties. Some of them together, I think, comes to 10 parties. There will be one or two more," he said.