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CPI(M) will forge third alternative: Karat

Special Correspondent

The party will continue to adopt tactics for isolating and defeating the BJP

is beside him. — Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat (left) launches the Draft Political Resolution for the 19th Party Congress at a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday. Party leader Sitaram Yechury

NEW DELHI: While asserting that the building of a “third alternative” must be undertaken at the national level, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said on Sunday that it would maintain relations with all the non-Congress secular parties for united struggle and joint action on common issues.

“The Left parties and the CPI(M) have a responsibility to initiate the process of formation of a non-Congress, non-BJP alternative as we do not agree with the policies of these two parties. It will not be reduced to a mere electoral alliance but will focus on electoral understanding on a long-term basis in terms of policies distinctly different from the Congress and the BJP,” CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here.

Releasing the draft political resolution for party units and members two months ahead of the 19th party congress, Mr. Karat said the Left and the CPI(M) would take the initiative to forge a “third alternative.” The party would continue to adopt tactics for isolating and defeating the BJP, but it would also not enter into any alliance with the Congress.

The resolution said such a platform must be based on a consistent anti-communal outlook, advocate pro-people economic measures and focus on social welfare measures, defence of national sovereignty and an independent foreign policy.

On the future direction and tasks for the party, Mr. Karat outlined four key points: fighting against neo-liberal policies; isolating the BJP-RSS combine, who spearhead the communal forces in the country; mobilising all democratic sections to thwart the imperialist designs of the United States to convert India into its strategic ally; and ensuring social justice for all oppressed sections of society, including the Dalits, tribals, women and the minorities.

Mr. Karat did not make any commitment on supporting the Congress-led coalition after the next Lok Sabha elections. He asserted that the “third alternative” could not remain a mere electoral alliance. “We still want a secular government at the Centre which does not follow such economic policies; let us see how we achieve it,” he said to a query on the party’s plans for the next Lok Sabha elections.

“We are at the stage of discussing with some of the parties and forces on looking at the issues on which we can work together,” he said, recalling that the party had entered into electoral understandings with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party.

The 55-page resolution dwelt at length on the international situation, national politics, the economic situation, food security, the UPA government’s performance, foreign policy, the condition of the people, Centre-State relations, social issues, education and health and the third alternative.

Replying to a question, Mr. Karat, who was accompanied by party MP and Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury, said pressure from the Left parties had led to some pro-people measures being adopted by the United Progressive Alliance government, such as the rural employment guarantee scheme and the Forest Tribal Act. “The CPI(M) and the Left have also succeeded in slowing the pace at which the government was pursuing neo-liberal reforms.”

The draft political resolution, prepared by the party’s Central Committee last month, would be taken up at the 19th party congress, scheduled in Coimbatore from March 29 to April 3.

It will determine the political line to be taken by the party on a number of national, international, economic and social issues for the next three years.

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