New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat Saturday batted forcefully for a non-Congress, non-BJP government at the Centre while discounting any "wave" in favour of BJP leader Narendra Modi.
"The 11 parties that we brought together have not allied with either the Congress or the BJP. Depending on the results of the (Lok Sabha) polls, we will be able to bring them together," Karat said.
He was speaking at the Indian Women's Press Corps on Ashoka Road here.
He also said a Third Front government coming to power was "very much a possibility which we will explore post elections."
February 25, the CPI-M organised a meeting of representatives of 11 regional parties in Delhi, including the Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal-United to signal its intention of putting together what is usually termed as a Third Front.
Admitting there was a "strong anti-Congress" trend visible in the country, he contended it was being "misinterpreted as a wave in favour of Narendra Modi".
According to him, the said "trend" will benefit the BJP where the contest is between the two main national parties. But he claimed this may not be the case in states where other regional parties have a strong presence.
On the issue of whether a Third Front government could be stable, he said "hopefully some lessons have been learnt from past experiences".
He also said it will not be possible for such a combination to come to power "unless the Congress takes a positive approach to it".
Clarifying on the party's stand towards whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) can be part of the Third Front, he said: "AAP has to decide. We consider them to be a non-Congress, non-BJP party."
Attempting to dispel the fear reportedly expressed by the Congress that the Left will have too much of a say in any Third Front formation, Karat said they "did not have that much strength. We will not have the leading role."
Karat also defended the Samajwadi Party's record on communalism by claiming the party "played a big role in fighting majoritarian communalism in the late 80s and early 90s".
However, when the issue of communally tinged speeches by leaders during the ongoing poll campaign was raised, he said "all non-Left parties have failings in their secular character. Their secularism is only to a certain degree."
Aruna Roy files PIL against Rajasthan panchayat ordinance
New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) The Supreme Court will Jan 5 hear
Afghanistan considering consulate in Kolkata
Kolkata, Feb 23 (IANS) Afghanistan is considering opening a consulate in Kolkata, its envoy to I
No Reduction in R-Day Tickets Number: Defence Ministry
New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) No reduction has been made in the number of tickets available for publ
India-Pakistan is going to compete after almost a year in the Asia Cup starting on August 27. Thi
The legal dispute over Mehul Choksi's disappearance from Antigua and recovery from Domenica has n
More than four years after it was passed by Parliament, the rules related to the Citizenship Amen
Even though Washington Sundar was included in the Indian team as a replacement for Axar Patel, Ro
Kiran Bedi's Election aide joins back hours after quitting
New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) Hours after resigning from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the politi
Congress wants Priyanka Gandhi to campaign more: Singhvi
Kolkata, April 26 (IANS) The Congress was "keen and eager" to see party chief Sonia Gandhi's da
Taiwan retaliated on China, said - will not compromise on its sovereignty
Taiwan has responded by reversing China's statement, in which China said that it will do anything
