Left Front trying to forge a third alternative: Karat

Sriganganagar, Dec 14: Communist Party of India(Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat today said the Left parties were making efforts to form a ''Third Front'' as an alternative to both the Congress and the BJP although he did not spell out a time frame.

''We have not yet set any time frame for the formulation of the Third Front but efforts are on to forge an alternative based on a common programme and policies,'' Mr Karat, who was here in connection with a state party convention, told newspersons. Accusing the UPA government of failing to tackle the ''agricultural crisis'' in the country, he said the ruling coalition was fast losing its popularity due to the rising prices and burgeoning unemployment.

He said both the NDA and UPA followed the same economic policies and the common people were feeling the heat of price rise.

''In such a situation Left parties are left with no option but to search for an alternative to both the political fronts,'' he added.

UNI