Rivals in states have got together to bail out Cong: Yechury

A "new political alignment" is in the offing in national politics with parties like SP, BSP, RJD and JD(U) vying with each other to support Congress in Parliament, senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said today.
"Rivals in the states have got together to bail out the Congress... They don't see eye to eye in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar," he said while referring to these parties voting in favour of the Congress-led government in the Rajya Sabha on the Food Security Bill.
"We will have to wait and see how this will crystalise. There are interesting times ahead ... There is a churning going on... Everyone is now looking for immediate gains in the state level ... And the Congress has managed to collect its numbers (in Parliament)," he said, adding that CBI was being used to "manufacturing majority in the House".

"Had a couple of these parties not voted with the Congress, there would have been a serious problem in Rajya Sabha" where the legislation was adopted with 120 votes in favour and 94 against, Yechury said.
Asked how the Left would forge a political understanding with these parties if they now favoured Congress, he said, "An alternative is required on the basis of alternative policies. We have appealed to all of them to join hands on the basis of alternative policies rather than the neo-liberal policies pursued by both the Congress and the BJP.
"We hope that finally an alternative to Congress and BJP will take shape."

Referring to pending legislations like those on pension and insurance, the CPI(M) leader said, "Ironically on a day the Food Bill was passed, diesel prices were hiked substantially... Now when the rupee is sliding and the sensex is down, they want to increase the FDI ceiling in pension fund. It is a very dangerous time for the people."
Observing that the two major parties were "very comfortable with each other on the so-called economic reform measures", he said if they got together on economic issues, then they have a majority in both Houses of Parliament. "That is a reality."
He said the CPI(M) and other Left parties were coordinating with other like-minded parties against these "anti-people" policies.