CPI(M) attempting third alternative: Yechury

Vijayawada, June 18 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau Member Sitaram Yechury today said his party is trying to form a third alternative, excluding the Congress and BJP in protest against the United Progressive Alliance(UPA) Government's economic policies.

Talking to newspersons here, he said discussions were on with the like minded parties, and Samajwadi Party (SP) was keen to work with the CPI(M) on the issue.

Mr Yechury said political parties, inclined to join the third alternative must have secular credentials and should fight with us against the economic policies implemented by the Centre.

Reminding that the CPI(M)-led Left Front Government would celebrate its 30th anniversary in Kolkata shortly, as it won the assembly elections consecutively, since 1977, breaking the record of the Congress, which was in power from 1947, though from 1967 to 1969, United Front led by the late Bangla Congress leader, Ajay Mukherjee was in power and later the President rule was implemented for a brief period before the Congress led by Siddhartha Shankar Ray had taken over the reins of the Government, after winning the 1972 assembly polls.

He denied that the CPI(M) as a ruling party is supporting the economic policies in West Bengal and differing with it at the Centre.

The economic polices were implemented in West Bengal, after discussing issues threadbare in the party, whereas the Centre is ignoring the economic policies initiated in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP), he alleged.

Mr Yechury said the foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail trade can be brought only after the upgradation of technology and creating more jobs in the country.

He said the Left parties will support the UPA Government, till it adheres to the CMP, but if it crosses the Lakshmana Rekha, the Left will not be held responsible, if any evantuality takes place at the Centre.

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