New Delhi, May 6
A key Left party and an outside supporter of the UPA government says that the Left as a whole should review its backing to the central coalition, whose policies only seek to help the BJP and go against the common man.
Notwithstanding CPI(M)’s unenthusiastic response to its review proposal, the CPI says the Government should be given a message that the Left parties’ support cannot be taken for granted any more.
In a wide-ranging interview to PTI, veteran communist and 81-year-old General Secretary of the party, A B Bardhan, feels that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has spoken the right thing about creeping ``crony capitalism’’ in the country but regrets that he has not done anything to set things right.
In the interview, he also spoke on the need for keeping BJP out of the government in Uttar Pradesh after the coming elections and to elect a “secular, progressive and democratic” person as the next President.
“My point is not that we should immediately withdraw support. I did say and I still say that it is time for the Left parties to review the whole thing. It is time for us at least to send a message to the government that they can’t take our support for granted.
“It is time for the government to realise that the demands put forth and the issues that have been agreed upon in the Common Minimum Programme are implemented in letter and spirit. If we, the Left, can ensure that, there may be no need for it (review support). But that is what I am doubting, looking into what they are doing.”
Asked if he was giving the government some time, he shot back “at any rate, we are not saying (withdraw support) today or tomorrow.” He said the country was now faced with two major political issues — the fallout of the UP elections and the upcoming Presidential election. “After that the Left should meet and review”.
On UP, Bardhan said media projections gave BSP the possibility of emerging as the single largest party. “But I am not concerned about the fate of this party or the other. Uttar Pradesh should have a secular government and a government from which the BJP should be kept out.” He was confident that despite the fact that secular parties were fighting against each other, it did not mean that they cannot come together after the elections to form a government. “Why should we drive the BSP towards the BJP,” he asked.
On the upcoming Presidential election, the CPI veteran said both Congress and BJP cannot get their candidate to Rashtrapati Bhavan on their own. Neither can the Left parties.
“There have to be very intense negotiations among the parties. We would like to see a candidate who is very secular person who is progressively inclined, democratic and one who is aware of the Constitutional responsibilities,” he said, adding the exercise on finding a consensus candidate would begin after the UP polls.
“All the cards can be put on the table then,” he said.
— PTI
