In a move to forge a non-Congress, non-BJP alliance before the 2014 parliamentary elections, CPI national secretary AB Bardhan on Sunday held a preliminary discussion with Odisha’s BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Bardhan told reporters that detailed talks would be held soon for firming up a tie-up with the BJD.
Describing Patnaik’s response as positive, Bardhan said he has impressed upon the former the need for efforts to form a non-Congress and non-BJP Government at the Centre.
Bardhan quoted Patnaik as saying that since there was ample time before the elections, detailed discussions on a possible poll alliance between the CPI and the BJD can be held after a month or two.
He said he told Patnaik that except Rajasthan, there was no Narendra Modi wave elsewhere in the recent Assembly polls. “However, Patnaik corrected me and said there was no Modi wave in Rajasthan either and the BJP was able to capture power in the State because of people’s anger against Congress,” he said.
While asserting that the Congress and the BJP would not be able to form Government at the Centre after the 2014 polls, Bardhan said efforts are on to forge a new combination of left and democratic forces, including regional parties, to provide a viable alternative.
“While the Congress will be unable to retain power at the Centre due to people’s anger, the BJP will fail to form Government due to its inability to win required number of seats,” Bardhan said.
Optimistic about formation of a non-Congress and non-BJP combination, he said efforts for formation of a pre-poll alliance between left and regional parties like the BJD, JD(U) and AIADMK should be stepped up.
Noting that many regional parties are not sharing power at the Centre, Bardhan said since they are anti-Congress and anti-BJP, the left parties should try for State-specific understandings or alliances with these outfits. Bardhan was here to attend CPI Odisha State Council meeting.
He said the recent Delhi Assembly elections, in which the Aam Aadmi Party won 28 of the 70 seats, shows that people are searching for an alternative and steps must be taken to provide a viable option before them.