CPI initiates talks for Third Front with Naveen

The Communist Party of India (CPI) leader A B Bardhan today met Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence to discuss about election tie ups and formation of a Third Front ahead of 2014 General Elections.

"The recent assembly elections showed people's anger against the Congress, which was routed in four states. It will be unable to retain power at the Centre. The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) will also fail to form government as it would not be able to garner the required number of seats in the 2014 polls. There is a great need for an alternative political force," Bardhan told reporters here.

Efforts for the formation of a pre-poll alliance between the Left and regional parties like BJD, Janata Dal (United) and Jayalalitha's AIADMK should be stepped up to provide an acceptable political alternative, he added.

The BJD chief assured the CPI leader of a discussion in this regard in a month or two as there was enough time for the elections which must be conducted before May 2014.

Describing the BJD supremo's response as positive, the veteran CPI leader said, he had stressed on the need to put up efforts to form a non-Congress and non-BJP government at the Centre during talks with Patnaik.

"I think further discussion can be held towards the end of January or early February," he said.

During the meeting, Bardhan emphasised that in the recently concluded assembly elections, where the BJP was able to put up a better show in four out of five states, the impact of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was limited to Rajasthan only.

"However, Patnaik corrected me and said there was no Modi wave in Rajasthan either and BJP was able to capture power in the state because of people's anger against Congress," he said.

In 2009 elections, the BJD and the CPI had gone into a seat sharing arrangement.