Left in damage assessment mode

New Delhi, May 17 (ANI): In a bid to review their dismal performance in the Lok Sabha Elections, leaders of of Left Front met here on Sunday.

The communists, who till now had a stronghold in West Bengal and Kerala, managed to get only 24 seats as compared to 59 seats in 2004.

Senior leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, All-India Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party attended the meeting.

"In the light of the Lok Sabha election results, it was decided that each party individually would review the reverses suffered in the elections. Following this, the Left parties will come to a collective assessment on how to overcome the shortcomings and move ahead," said CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan.

Accepting the mandate, the CPI (M) has decided to play the role of "responsible opposition."

"The government will be formed as per the verdict of the people. There will be a government formed, led by the Congress party of India. For us the verdict is to sit in the opposition. We will fulfill our duties as a responsible opposition," said CPI (M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Congress-led coalition, riding on the back of years of economic growth, did better than expectations to retain power. (ANI)