No political alternative without Left: CPI-M, CPI

Dismissing the 'Federal Front' idea, the Left today said there can be no political alternative in the country without it and that the communist parties were in touch with JD(U) and anti-Congress, anti-BJP parties.
"An alternative front cannot be formed by merely announcing it. Such a front can only become successful if it is built on the basis of alternative policies and a common programme. There has to be alternative policies which can provide relief to the masses," CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told reporters in Kolkata.
Asked to comment on CPI(M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's observation that formation of an alternative front is a tough challenge as there are various parties splintered on the basis of religion and caste, Yechury said, "Yes that's true.

"But, I feel that regional parties too are under pressure from their support base to look for alternative policies," he said.
"Without the Left, there can't be alternative policies. We are in touch with Sharad Yadav and other anti-Congress, anti BJP parties," he said.
When asked about the announcement of Federal Front of non-Congress, non-BJP parties by Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said, "We are not giving any relevance to it."

Yechury noted that he recently had a conversation with Sharad Yadav, whom he had known for four decades, where the JD(U) leader had lauded the Left and had said it is the moral conscience of the country.

CPI on its part said an alternative front sans Congress and BJP to fight corruption and control price rice is not possible without the initiative of Left parties.
"Our party thinks that the federal front proposal is meaningless. There is no use in just gathering and mobilising non-Congress, non-BJP and regional parties. It is not going to make any difference for people of the country", CPI General Secretary Sudhakar Reddy told reporters in Chennai.
He said any government of an alternative front, which should be able to deliver the goods, "will not be possible without the Left parties' initiative."
Reddy opined there should be an alternative front to fight corruption, control price-rise and change the 'anti-people' and 'pro-Corporate' policies of the present government.

"We want an alternative front (ruling at the Centre) and not a third front," he said.