A day after RJD chief Lalu Prasad batted for Rahul Gandhi as the Congress prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections, the CPI (M) on Saturday said that it was the prerogative of the Congress to project their leader.
“I don’t know why this question is being asked to the CPI (M). As far as who will be their leader, who will be their Prime Ministerial candidate, let them take a decision,” CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told a press conference in Kolkata at the end of the party’s central committee meeting.
“We can say something if necessary at an appropriate time about that. But it has nothing to do with us,” he said. “As far as our party understandings and the political line decided in the last party congress, it has called for the defeat of the Congress and BJP,” Mr. Karat said.
“It is very clear as far our party’s position is concerned. It doesn’t matter who will be the leader of the Congress party,” Mr. Karat said.
Terming the Congress led UPA regime as the most corrupt government since independence, Mr. Karat slammed it for announcing deregulation of diesel and said it would have a disastrous effect on common man. “This present government is not at all bothered about the common man. It is only bothered about the big corporate houses. This is the most corrupt government since independence,” said Mr. Karat.
Commenting on Lalu Prasad’s comment on Friday that he did not foresee formation of a third front during the 2014 elections, Mr. Karat said “RJD has decided to go along with the Congress party in Bihar also. Probably he doesn’t see the scope for formation of any other front now. We don’t share his views.
“Our party will work for the strengthening of non Congress non-BJP forces in the country. But we are also not advocating a third front at present. We don’t how it will take shape or in what form. Right now we are not in the business of forming a third front.
“We are now focusing on strengthening the Left and rally the democratic and secular forces. At the time of election we might have some understanding with some non Congress, secular parties. But we are not emphasizing on the projection of the front. So we are not talking about it. That stage is not finished,” said Mr. Karat.
