Left parties to play decisive role after LS polls: A B Bardhan

Without Left parties there cannot be an alternative coalition, says Bardhan

Vowing to strive to oust the Congress and prevent BJP from coming to power at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections, the CPI today claimed that Left parties would play a decisive role with other secular forces to form the new government.

"Left parties are determined to remove Congress and prevent BJP from gaining power at the Centre. There will be a non-BJP and non-Congress coalition of democratic and secular forces after the elections," CPI's National Secretary A B Bardhan told reporters here.

He said "Without Left parties there cannot be an alternative coalition."

Several regional parties like BJD in Odisha were likely to be part of the new coalition of secular and democratic forces along with Left parties at the national level in the post-poll scenario, he claimed.

Under the circumstances, the prospects of a non-BJP and non-Congress platform had brightened to fill the space at the national level, Bardhan said.

Bardhan said "I am sure there will be no UPA-3. Though BJP will be in a slightly better position than Congress, the party and its allies will not be able to get more than 200 seats in Lok Sabha in the polls."

On Narendra Modi criss-crossing the country to bolster BJP's poll prospects, the CPI veteran claimed that the BJP prime ministerial candidate's 'aggressive and authoritarian role' was driving away many people.

Though the Left parties refrained from entering into electoral understanding with regional outfits like BJD mainly for the assembly election, after the Lok Sabha polls a new coalition would emerge at the national level, Bardhan said.

The veteran CPI leader said price rise, corruption and food security would be among the major issues to be highlighted.