Left will become powerful after assembly elections: Yechuri

Agartala, May 9: CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechuri has expressed confidence that the Left Front will be more powerful after the elections in four states and a Union Territory, saying it will increase its pressure on the UPA government at the Centre for the strict adherence to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

''CMP is the 'Laxman Rekha' for the UPA and the UPA will not be allowed to deviate from the CMP,'' Mr Yechuri said after releasing the Agartala edition of the Party's mounthpiece 'Peoples Democracy' at a function here last night.

Mr Yechuri said the Left Front would return to power in both West Bengal and Kerala and the victory would further strengthen the Left forces, who had been fighting for the cause of the common man.

''The victory in West Bengal and Kerala will enable us to exert more pressure on the UPA, so that the Union government could not follow anti-people policies,'' he said.

The CPI (M) Rajya Sabha member said the Congress was very much aware of the growing strength of the Left and that was why Ms Sonia Gandhi had written to the Prime Minister to scrutinise the proposed India-ASEAN free trade agreement as it would harm the interest of domestic farmers.

He said the call of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee for foreign investment was in tune with the party's policy as these foreign investments had been coming without any pre-condition.

''We are against any foreign investment with any pre-condition.

But if it comes without any condition we will utilise it for the betterment of the poor people,'' he added.

UNI