CPI-ML(L) to abstain from voting in prez polls

Defending the party's decision, Bhattacharya said the presidential poll is not merely election of a person to the top post but also a vote for policies and programmes of political parties contesting this election.

CPI-ML(L), he said, has decided to abstain from the presidential election as it disapproved of policies and programmes of both UPA and NDA.

The party does not support UPA's presidential candididate Pranab Mukherjee as he is part of the incumbent central government whose economic and foreign policies pushed the country to severe economic crisis and presided over a series of scams, besides meekly surrendering before the U.S and its policies.

The NDA is no different from UPA as its policy decisions on economy, foreign, agriculture and trade while it was in power at the Centre were detrimental to the interests of the country and its people, Bhattacharya said.

The UPA government had inherited its predecessor's economic and foreign policies and sustained them during its rule.

"The adverse impact of economic and foreign policies of the two governments is there for all to see as the country is reeling under economic crisis affecting the people," he said. MORE