CPI(M) questions initiative to float Federal Front

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 20

The initiative to float a Federal Front consisting of political parties minus the Congress to take on the Narendra Modi juggernaut in the 2019 General Election was on Tuesday trashed by the CPI(M).

CPI(M) broadly indicated its strong reservations in associating itself  with a move to cobble up an anti-BJP front in which TMC would be a part or has a big role.

The CPI(M) is major entity in spectrum of Left parties which are, generally driven by a common ideology and strategy. They are working to strengthen unity among themselves.

The setback to the move, even if temporary, is bound to bring cheers in the government camp.

The move for a Federal Front has come from Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) head and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The two met in Kolkata yesterday on the issue and decided to carry the move forward.

CPI(M) deputy leader in Lok Sabha  Mohammad Salim when asked at a press conference on the possibility of his party joining the proposed Federal Front, quipped: “ Which Federal Front?”

“Watch the conduct of political parties on the floor of the two Houses of Parliament which  allow the government to bail out from answering questions on issues of  public importance raised by the Opposition.”

Without identifying, he said the political parties are playing games. “They are acting on a prepared script in Parliament,” and suggested its author is the government.

He left no one in doubt that the political parties are TMC and TRS. Without taking names, he referred to Banerjee saying that her track record of her anti-government stand, including on demonitisation, in and outside Parliament has helped government to divert attention from  its accountability and questions by the Opposition on critical issues.

He said the present mantra to counter the BJP is to stop division of anti-BJP votes. He referred to SP and BSP, traditional rivals in BJP-ruled state Uttar Pradesh politics, joining hands to defeat the BJP nominees at Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha constituencies in the recent by-elections.

He said although the Congress had put up nominees for both the constituencies, the Left parties extended support to the SP nominees who were supported by the BSP.