No Left-Cong electoral tie-up at national level: CPI

The electoral tie-up between the Left parties and the Congress for the West Bengal Assembly polls is a "special case" and it's not going to be replicated at the national level given "peculiar problems" in some states, the Communist Party of India (CPI) said today.
The party's General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy told PTI here that a section of people particularly "secular" friends believe the time has come for the Left and Congress to "come together".
"...Not only the Left and the Congress, other secular parties also. But there are peculiar problems in some states. It's all regional parties who are all secular fighting against each other for power. The Left and Congress are opponents in Tripura, Kerala. So, such problems are there," Reddy said.

Asked, if in hindsight, he thinks it was a good move to join hands with Congress or it would damage the image of the Left in the long run, he said, "I can't say but it's a special case of West Bengal alone. It's not going to be a national phenomenon now."
He, however, said there is a possibility of floor coordination at national level between them.
"And on secularism (there can be coordination), and outside agitation can be coordinated but most important thing is: Congress has to decide whether they will continue to have pro-corporate policies or (would go for) pro-people policies," Reddy said.

"If economic issues are completely changed, then there will be more possibility of some sort of united action...It's not only secularism, economic issues are also very important," he said.
Referring to Assembly elections in Kerala, where the BJP put up a spirited campaign to open its account, Reddy accused the party of bringing "social and political pollution" to the southern state, and indulging in "hate politics".
"This time the misuse of power by the BJP and the demagogue of (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and others have created an impression that they are also a political force. I don't think they can create any impact on Kerala politics," he added.