Left unimpressed by New Front of Regional Parties

New Delhi, June 7: Left parties today ruled out the possibility of their joining the new political front mooted by eight regional parties at their Hyderabad conclave, asserting that the new front would not have a 'decisive role' in the forthcoming Presidential polls. The top leaders of the CPI, CPI(M) and Forward Bloc said combined electoral votes of the UPA and its allies, the Left, the BSP and other non-UPA parties are enough to get their consensus candidate to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhawan and succeed Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, whose term expires on July 24.

Leaders of eight regional parties, including the AIADMK, the Telugu Desam Party and Samajwadi Party, announced the formation of the New Front to form a viable alternative to the Congress and the BJP.

The formation of the new front assumes significance as Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in all probability will be in the fray as an" independent" nominee in the Presidential race. His new found "independent" tag is to ensure the support of these parties which are anti- Congress and also do not want to be associated with the saffron party.

These parties have as many as 84 MPs and 266 MLAs which together account for 1,04,692 electoral votes.If all these parties decide to act in tandem and vote along with the NDA, they can give anxious time to the ruling UPA, the observers say even as the Left does not foresee such a possibility.

The Left leaders ruled out the possibility of their joining any such political formation on the plea that the real alternative to both the Congress and the BJP had to emerge from the common struggles relating to the nation's foreign, economic and political issues.

Responding to a query whether the new formation would play any "decisive role" in the forthcoming Presidential polls, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said," I dont think so that they can play any decisive role as the strength of the UPA and allies, the Left, BSP and many others is sufficient to see its candidate through." On the question of the Left joining such an initiative, Mr Bardhan, the CPI leader, veteran Communist and freedom fighter, said the grouping included some leaders who almost preclude any such attempt to come closer. Mr Bardhan's remark was in obvious reference to INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala and AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa.

Mr Bardhan also wanted the new front to spell out its alternative economic agenda which benefited the farmers, working classes, the BPL families, the dalits, tribals and minorities." What is their commitment to fight communal forces and defending country's secular ethos?" On the relevance of the new front, the CPI veteran said coming together at this juncture led to the suspicion that it is intended to influence the presidential polls, but as far as the numbers game is concerned, these are not in favour of the BJP's game plan to send its nominee to the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

CPI(M) senior leader Mohammad Salim said the new grouping was trying to assert and consolidate their position but elections are not mere number games.

"They can not fight for the BJP camp and we hope that they are not going to act on the plan, scripted by the BJP." While Forward Bloc National Secretary G Devrajan endorsed Mr Salim's viewpoint, Mr Bardhan, however, cautioned that as far as the second preference vote was concerned, they might go for the candidate indirectly sponsored by the NDA.

On the new front's initiative on evolving a third alternative to the Congress and the BJP, Mr Salim remarked,"Any such initiative has not only to be strictly independent of the BJP and the Congress but also in its policies on economy, foreign policy, communalism and distinctive from the policies and programmes pursued by the UPA and the BJP." This can be based on common mass movements and struggles instead of pre election parleys among the leadership, he added.

CPI Floor leader in the Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta said the new front would try to play its role on the national political scenario and also the presidential elections." But if they support the BJP game plan to get its nominee elected to Rashtrapati Bhawan it will lose its relevance if any." Mr Devrajan said his party hoped that the new front could play a "very important role and not go for the "BJP nominee".

UNI