Bhubaneswar
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday said it would contest elections in minimum seats to maximise the pooling of anti-BJP votes in the forthcoming general elections.
“We will enter the fray with three objectives – to defeat the BJP and its allies, increase the strength of the CPI (M) and Left parities, and present an alternative secular government at the Centre,” said CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury at a press conference here.
“We will support the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, RJD and other secular forces in Bihar, NCP in Maharashtra and the DMK in Tamil Nadu. The objective is to maximise the pooling of anti-BJP votes,” he said.
“Last time the BJP formed government by securing only 31% of the votes. That means 69% of electorates had voted against it. The BJP formed the government because of the fragmentation in Opposition camps,” Mr. Yechury said.
“As far as Parliament election in Odisha is concerned, we will be contesting not more than one seat. In other seats, we will go by our objective to defeat the BJP. During the past five years, the BJD has been unambiguously taking a pro-BJP stance on different political issues. We will oppose both BJP and BJD in the State,” he said.
CPI (M) sources said the party would contest Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency and senior party leader Janardhn Pati is likely to be fielded as the candidate from the seat.
“In the Assembly elections in Odisha, we will contest in our sitting seat – Bonai in Sundargarh district. Other seats which we had held earlier will be our priority. But the idea is to confine to minimum number of seats where we have our movement, bases and followings,” said Mr. Yechury.
The strategy would remain same for the rest of the States. “We will safeguard our base and at the same time we will try to defeat BJP,” he said.
In West Bengal, the CPI (M) had already made its stand clear that it would oppose both BJP and Trinamool Congress.
“Indian economy is currently witnessing worst crisis. Due to faulty policies of the Modi government, the economy has been pushed down. Now, there is double whammy. While Indian currency is fast depreciating, petroleum prices are shooting up,” he said.
According to CPI (M) General Secretary, the agricultural growth has come down by half, rate of unemployment has gone up and there is drop in wholesale price index.
