Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi has ruled out the scope for an alternative front led by Left parties after the election. He was addressing a face-to-face programme of the Thrissur Press Club here on Saturday.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] general secretary Prakash Karat wanted a dip in the number of seats for the Congress. Such a situation would only help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mr. Karat’s remarks were unfortunate. I do not see any chance for an alternative front after the election, he said.
It was Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s magnanimity that he was ready to take the responsibility of the poll verdict. The Congress party would be responsible as a whole, whatever be the outcome, Mr. Ravi said.
The political situation at the national and State levels were favourable to the Congress.
There were no particular issues haunting the Congress. The rise in prices of essential commodities was not a sudden event. People would evaluate the steps taken by the government to tackle the situation, he said.
“Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone,” Mr. Ravis said in response to a query regarding rampant corruption during the UPA regime.
He refuted allegations that the changes in the Union Cabinet were due to pressure from capitalist forces. The financial crisis in the State was not due to the ineptitude of the government, he added.