No compromise with Left in state elections: Sonia

Agartala, Feb 18: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi made it clear that Congress party would not compromise with Left Front in the forthcoming Tripura elections, though Left parties support the UPA government at the Centre. Addressing an election rally in Stable ground here today, Mrs Gandhi said she had already told in Kerala that Congress would be fighting against unemployment and under development, as she felt the Left ruled states were lagging behind due to massive corruption and misrule.

"We sought the support of Left parties just to keep away the communal forces from power. It does not mean that we would go for political compromise in the elections in Left ruled states," Mrs Gandhi asserted adding that Left parties rather supported UPA to restrain NDA from coming to power. Clarifying the alliance with INPT, a tribal based anti-left party of Tripura, she stated that Congress never encouraged militancy, but tried to bring them to the mainstream by offering political power because Congress was the only party in the country which sacrificed two leaders--Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi in fighting against terrorism.

''I want to make it clear that we are united on the basis of common minimum programme and in our fight against communalism, but it does not mean that we will give them a walkover in the state election'', Mrs Gandhi stated.

She has also pointed out that the law and order situation as well and unemployment were major issues in Tripura despite huge central funds.

Mrs Gandhi promised that if Congress-INPT-PDS combine comes to power in Tripura, they would do everything to ensure employment and promote growth.

Mrs Gandhi arrived here today forenoon and addressed the first election rally in northern most town Dharmanagar, bordering Asom and Bangladesh. She then addressed another rally in the state capital.

UNI