No need for third front before 2014 polls: Karat

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) is not striving to form a third front, party general secretary Prakash Karat has said.

“We [CPI-M] have not discussed a third front. There is no need for such a front before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Sadly, the talk is all about an alternative to the UPA and the NDA, but not about alternative policies. It is unfortunate that no one is talking about a substitute for policies carried out by successive governments, which caused socio-economic crises,” he told reporters here on Thursday.

An alternative

Earlier, inaugurating a two-day seminar on ‘Left alternatives for Indian economy, political democracy and society,’ organised by the Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development (Costford) in remembrance of CPI(M) leader and former Kerala Chief Minister E. M.S. Namboodiripad, Mr. Karat called for a Left democratic alternative — a broad-based coalition of forces — to address the country’s problems.

“This may perhaps entail temporary regional adjustments, alliances and tactics. But mind you, the ties are temporary,” he said.

Asked if the CPI(M) would land in a coalition in which the Trinamool Congress is a constituent, he said, “There is no question of an alliance with the Trinamool. In West Bengal, Trinamool activists have been attacking CPI(M) cadres.”

Neo-liberal approach

He said the neo-liberal approach of the Union government had led to economic slowdown, rapidly increasing current account deficit, rise in prices of essential commodities, high inflation, growing unemployment, concentration of capital in the hands of a few, exploitation of the working class, and oppression of Dalits, minorities, women and children.

Mr. Karat called for a proportional representation electoral system and strengthening of worker-peasant alliance.