The Hindu : CPI keeps open option of joining a secular government

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 17, 2004

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CPI keeps open option of joining a secular government

By Our Special Correspondent

The Communist Party of India general secretary, A.B. Bardhan (right), and the secretary, D. Raja, releasing the party's election manifesto in New Delhi on Tuesday. — Photo: S. Arneja

NEW DELHI, MARCH. 16. The Communist Party of India today asserted that the party's option of joining a secular government would depend on the "equation of forces'' and now it was committed to defeating the forces led by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"The CPI wants secular parties and forces in the States to reach as broad as possible mutual adjustments and alliances and avoid splitting anti-BJP votes, to replace the NDA rule by that of a secular democratic coalition government,'' the CPI said in its manifesto which was released by the CPI general secretary, A.B. Bardhan, here.

Expanding the party's vision, it said such a coalition, on obtaining a majority, should agree on a common minimum programme, which will take the country forward.

The party's thrust also would be to increase the representation of the CPI and the Left parties, he said adding that the Left would be the driving force behind the secular coalition and ensure that the agreed common minimum programme was implemented.

But Mr. Bardhan said considering the different situations that existed in various States there was no possibility to have an all-India understanding. "It could only be State-specific.''

Ironically, even as the CPI called for consolidation of anti-BJP votes the party had to declare unilaterally its candidates for four Lok Sabha seats from Bihar since it found no response from the Rashtriya Janata Dal president, Laloo Prasad Yadav.

Mr. Bardhan said that he had made several attempts to contact Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, who did not reciprocate. The CPI had communicated to the RJD the four seats it was seeking — Ballia, Madhubani, Buxar and Gaya.

He said though the party had declared its candidates for these seats, it was open to negotiations provided the RJD was keen on it. Besides Bihar the party was engaged in talks with the Congress for seat adjustments in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.

In its 24-page manifesto, the party underlined the "record of dismal failures'' of the Vajpayee Government. It charged that besides registering a decline in economy, the employment rate declined to zero in the public sector and less than one per cent in the private sector.

On the issue of formation of new States, the party said it was committed to fighting for genuine demands and a commission could judge the merits of each case.

"In the existing socio-political system of uneven development, many regions suffer from backwardness, neglect and even deliberate discrimination in several spheres of economic and social development. The CPI takes note of this reality and is committed to fight for the genuine demands of such regions. The ruling parties have ignored this. This has led to demands for separation.''

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