JD(U), a key constituent of NDA, on Friday voiced concern over the opposition alliance “deviating” from its national agenda but said it has not given any ultimatum to BJP over walking out of the coalition.
“The alliance of NDA exists for now but the alliance has to continue under the norms of national agenda of NDA under which the coalition has functioned so far,” JD(U) president and NDA Convenor Sharad Yadav told reporters in Delhi.
He said certain events had taken place, which went against the tenets of NDA’s national agenda.
The relations between JD(U) and BJP have been strained following the appointment of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the chairman of the BJP’s campaign committee chief for next Lok Sabha polls.
Mr. Yadav said that JD(U) had maintained that Mr. Modi’s elevation was an internal matter of BJP.
“But we have objections to the remarks made by BJP leaders after that. At Goa, speeches that happened went beyond the national agenda,” he said.
Yechury meets Yadav
Senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Friday met JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav in New Delhi amid talks of non-Congress, non-BJP parties tying up for the next general elections gaining ground.
Though both the leaders did not divulge what was discussed, Mr. Yechury said Left parties want unity of parties on the basis of alternative policies.
“What we want is alternative policies. Left parties have called a political convention on July one. It will discuss the alternative policy framework,” Mr. Yechury told reporters after the 30-minute meeting with the NDA convenor.
Asked whether the Left would join a Third Front, he said it “depends upon the programme and policies” of such a platform.
He, however, made it clear that there was “no such talk” (of third front) at the meeting.
Observing that nothing much should be made out of his meeting Mr. Yadav, he said the JD(U) chief had invited him for dinner which he could not attend. “There is no politics ... we have been old friends.” Party General Secretary Prakash Karat had yesterday ruled out any effort by the Left to forge a third front and said the electoral strategy would only be to have a temporary arrangement based on seat adjustments and tactics.
Mr. Yechury earlier said an alternative to Congress and BJP was not possible “because it’s only the Left which gives the cohesion and programme for such an alternative.
“The Left has always been telling what the country needs and what the people are looking for is relief from their burdens. And such relief can come only if alternative policies are put in place,” he had said, and pointed out that the policies of both BJP and Congress were “virtually similar“.
In this situation, “The country and the people need some sort of alternative which can be worked out only by the active participation of the Left", he said.
To questions on formation of a front, Mr. Yechury said, “Merely calling for fronts....fronts don’t appear. They can’t be created from the atmosphere.
“You have to create an alternative quality framework and when you see any non-Congress, non-BJP government coming, it has to come out with such an understanding,” he said.
CPI(M), whose strength came down sharply from 44 in the last Lok Sabha to 16 now, has decided to project Left and secular forces as an alternative to Congress and BJP-led formations.
Left parties have been conducting mass campaigns, jathas and protests across the country on various issues affecting the people for the past several months.
Besides protesting corruption, other issues raised by the Left include price rise, food security and public distribution system, the land acquisition, proper implementation of MNREGA, Forest Rights Act, right to education, health and employment, attacks on women and social oppression.
