Congress, BJP will be defeated by secular alternative: Karat

Bhubaneswar (Orissa), May 8 (ANI): Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat met Biju Janata Dal leader and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here on Friday for discussions on forming a credible secular alternative to the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

After the meeting, Karat said he was confident about forming a non-Congress, non-BJP front that would be "well-poised" to defeat both the Congress and the BJP.

Patnaik also told reporters that the BJD too would not have any political truck with the Congress or the BJP.

Asked whether his party was open to outside support from Congress for a Third Front government, Patnaik said, "there are only a few days left for May 16 (when votes are counted). The question is premature. I reiterate that we will not support a government led by either Congress or BJP." (ANI)