Kerala - Alappuzha   

`Anti-Communist feeling strong in Antony'

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA, MAY 4. The CPI(M) central committee member, M. A. Baby, has said the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, was still under the influence of anti-Communist ideology of the `liberation struggle' (Vimochana Samaram) of 1959.

Participating in a `Meet-the-Press' programme of the Alappuzha Press Club here today, Mr. Baby said though the Congress leadership had changed its attitude towards the CPI(M), the Chief Minister was blindly opposing it.

The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had called on the CPI(M) general secretary, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, but Mr. Antony was behaving as if he was possessed by the spirit of C. P. Ramaswamny Iyer who was guided by anti-Communist feelings, Mr. Baby said.

Mr. Baby said there was no confusion in his party regarding its relation to the Congress in the post-poll scenario but there was confusion in the Congress, he added.

He said his party would not blindly oppose an alternative Government at the Centre lead by the Congress.

But the final decision would be taken after the central committee meeting to be held on May 16 and 17, he said.

Mr. Baby said victory of UDF candidates in Kerala will not ensure that the winners from here would support a secular Government at the Centre.

"P. C. Thomas who won from Moovattupuzha in the previous Lok Sabha elections joined the NDA later," he said.

Only the Left parties could ensure a secular Government at the Centre, he said.

Mr. Baby said the NDA would not be able to muster a majority in the coming Lok Sabha polls. The total number of allies of the BJP had come down from 24 to 17.

The BJP won the last Lok Sabha elections with the help of alliances and adjustments it made with regional parties.

But this time it would not work, he said.

Mr. Baby said the present elections were important in the sense that it would decide the future economic polices also apart from the upkeep of secular tradition of the country.

Mr. Baby said all industries in the State except those producing liquor were going through a tough period under the UDF Government.

A large number of public sector companies in Alappuzha district had closed down, he said.

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