BJP bigger threat than N-deal: Jyoti Basu

New Delhi, Jul 12: Differences have reportedly cropped up within the CPI (M) over the standoff with the UPA government. According to reports CP(M) Patriach Jyoti Basu asserted that he feels BJP is bigger threat than the Indo-US nuclear deal. Basu made these commments during a meeting with West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.

The meet was officially termed as being called to discuss the crucial developments in the national level. Basu"s statement came even as the Left parties are going all out to dissuade smaller parties from supporting the UPA on the N-deal issue. Basu, who wanted to see the Congress-led coalition completing its full term, has described it as a "sad development" in his close circles. Other Bengal party leaders like Biman Bose, state CPI(M) secretary, and chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who are not quite sure about the party's prospects in the next Lok Sabha polls, also share Basu's concern.

According to informed sources, there is also a marked difference in the wishlist of the central CPI(M) leadership and its Bengal unit in the post-withdrawal era. While Karat and other party hardliners want the fall of the UPA government to prevent implementation of the nuclear accord, the Bengal CPI(M) leaders want the government to continue and last its full term. But they had to swallow the bitter pill in view of general secretary Prakash Karat's hardline regarding the proposed Indo-US nuclear deal.

One section in the Left believes that by voting alongside BJP, they would send out a wrong signal, while the other section believes that the Left's ideological stand is of paramount importance.