NEW DELHI: The Left parties on Wednesday began a preliminary exercise to explore the possibility of fighting the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab on a united platform.

At a meeting here, leaders of the Left parties decided to discuss the idea with their colleagues. The argument was that while the Left parties were united in their approach on economic and foreign policies and on supporting the United Progressive Alliance Government from outside, there was a need for greater coordination in the States.

"There is a need for Left unity and a need to approach the coming Assembly elections as one," Debabrata Biswas, All-India Forward Bloc general secretary, said after the meeting. Others who attended the meeting included Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat and Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury, and CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan and national secretary D. Raja.

Mr. Karat told The Hindu that electoral tactics were discussed at the meeting. The Left parties would meet again later, he said.

The meeting also discussed the Centre's decision to deny clearance to the Vizhinjam deep-water international container transhipment terminal in Kerala on the grounds of security. Two Chinese companies are part of the consortium that bid for it.

Mr. Karat said there was a general discussion on infrastructure projects, and added that it had been decided to take up the subject with the Government.

There was also a suggestion that Left leaders meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with regard to the approach on Jammu and Kashmir ahead of his visit to the Non-Aligned Summit.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail