CPI-M rejects TMC's National Government idea

CPI-M today rejected the 'national government' idea mooted by West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee saying it would be a "hotchpotch arrangement".
An alternative government should be based on programmes and policies and then only it would be sustainable, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said while briefing the deliberations of the three-day party Central Committee meeting that concluded here today.
He said that the party was also opposed to the proposal to hold simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
On questions on alternative government, Yechury said "you cannot have an alternative as suggested by Mamata Banerjee. A national government...Instead of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, you have Advani as Prime Minister, both belonged to same party. It would only be a hotchpotch".

"The alternative should be based on programmes and policies, then only it will be sustainable", he said adding the Left would take initiative in giving shape to such an alternative.
To a question on the allegation of TMC supremo that CBI raid and arrest of her party MPs in chit fund scam was part of political vendetta of BJP, Yechury said CBI was acting on the scam as per the directive of the Supreme Court and it has nothing to do with the present demonetisation.

Yechury also said that both Modi and Mamata are "playing tantrums". One caters to Muslim community and the other to Hindu community, he said.

On the Centre's decision to advance the annual budget, Yechury said all opposition parties have opposed this.
"We are opposing due to two reasons...First, it has to be done after consulting with other parties and none of us have been consulted. Second...Election process to five states have already begun. We have already appealed to the President and Government on India on this," he said.
On the strategy to be adopted in the five states going to polls, Yechury said CPI(M) along with other Left parties would contest these elections independently projecting the left alternative policies against the dangers of the current neo-liberal economic offencive on the people.

In UP, the party's focus would be fight communal forces and combinations, he said and also ruled out the possibility of a "grand alliance" in the state.