Possibility of a third front explored: Paraksh Karat

Lucknow, June 17 : Communist Party of India (M) leader Paraksh Karat today said the possibility of a third front was being explored but he refused to commit his party's view on support to Vishwanath Partap Singh-led Janmorcha.

''We are meeting leaders of various political parties in order to explore possibility of a third political force in the country,'' the CPM leader told reporters after his about 90-minute meeting with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav at the latters's official residence this morning.

Though parrying many questions on his party's views and support to Janmorcha,which had organised an impressive rally in the state capital of Lucknow on May 30 last. ''Dekhenge (we will see),'' was Mr Karat's brief reply on persistent queries about his party's stand on Mr V P Singh's endeavour which claims to have gathered many constituents of the prospective third front on its platform.

In reply to a specific question regarding CPI's support to Janmorcha, the senior CPM leader said both the communist parties (CPM and CPI) may have some common issues but at the same time they were different parties. ''We will see to it later,'' he said.

Describing his meeting with the UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav as a routine one, Mr Karat said his party was in full support of SP's agitation against the petroleum prices hike. ''The agitation would continue till the prices were lowered,'' he said.

Mr Karat, to another poser about notices to SP leaders by different central agencies and Income Tax notices to cine star Amitabh Bachchan, considered close to SP, said the political battles should be fought on political issues. ''My party is against using political power out of personal vendetta,'' he said while refusing to divulge further.

''I will speak on the issue in the national capital,'' he replied on inisistence.

Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, on this occasion, came down heavily on the Congress party once again saying it was sparing nothing to destabilise his party and his government in Uttar Pradesh. ''We would continue to fight against excessess of the UPA government at the Centre,'' he said.

He said his political detractors were finding it hard to digest his government's pro-people stance. The launch of Rs 500 per month unemployment allowance scheme was one such scheme which was bound to go down well with the massess in the state, he said.

UNI