CPI(M) indicates shift in its anti-Congress stand

Kolkata, May 9 (ANI): The CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat on Saturday indicated a remarkable shift in his party's anti-Congress stand when he said, "after May 16 we will think" about the possibility of supporting the Congress.

On the questions of supporting a Congress-led government, Karat said, "Let the elections be over first. Let the results come. After May 16 we will think."

Karat said there would be a "realignment" after the elections and added that parties like JD(U) and NCP would have to decide whether they would join the Left-initiated combination of non-Congress secular parties.

"It is very clear now that nobody can form government without the Third Front's involvement or support. Nobody will have the numbers. It will be for Congress to take a decision whether they will facilitate the formation of a secular government at the Centre," he said.

Earlier, Karat's party colleague and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had said that the issue was "open" and a decision will be taken based on the poll results.

Despite his mellowed tone, the CPI (M) General Secretary said he was confidant that the Third Front will emerge as the single largest party after the declaration of the results.

"The Third Front is going to do well. If you take into account the BSP, which is now fighting separately but will come with us after elections, (these parties) are doing pretty well. We can match the Congress and BJP easily," Karat said.

Furthermore, he said the Congress would have to decide what it would do if "they cannot form a government with the numbers that they would have along with its allies" like Trinamool Congress, which he described as "very undependable". (ANI)