Efforts on for political third front prior LS polls: Karat

Lucknow, Sep 17 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat today said talks were underway with all the secular non-BJP and non-Congress political parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), for a political third front in the country before the Lok Sabha polls.

Though remaining ''mum'' whether he would meet Chief Minister Mayawati during his visit, Mr Karat said talks were going on with several political parties, but nothing could be divulged at this moment.

Talking to reporters here, the CPI(M) leader said our efforts for a third front in the country would continue and an alliance would be made before the Lok Sabha polls.

Mr Karat, who is here to chair the two-day meeting of the state party secretariat which commenced today, said the party was concerned over the sudden spurt of communal violence in the state, particularly at Azamgarh district recently.

''Our state unit would certainly announce some agitational programme tomorrow after discussing the issue,'' he said.

The CPI(M) leader also maintained that the state meeting would identify potential Lok Sabha seats and names of the probable candidates would be discussed.

UNI MB JAS JT RAI2038