New Delhi, Jan 7 (IANS) The Left parties' efforts to present a viable third alternative ahead of the Lok Sabha polls later this year have come a cropper due to the practical difficulties involved in bringing the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on board.
'We understand from the gestures of the BSP leaders that they were not interested in a pre-poll alliance with us. But nothing has been conveyed officially,' a top Communist Party of India (CPI) leader said.
'An alliance with the BSP is impossible as they have decided to go alone in the coming elections. Moreover, they have already declared that they would field their candidates in all Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. So, there is no point in discussing an alliance with BSP in such circumstances' the CPI leader told IANS.
'It is a fact that our position is weak in the north Indian states. The position of the BSP is the same in our strongholds. Also, we can not support BSP candidates in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. And the BSP can not support our candidates in Uttar Pradesh. There are practical difficulties in forming an alliance,' the leader explained.
'These practical difficulties are forcing us to go separately,' he added.
Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member M.K. Pandhe reinforced this view, saying: 'Generally, the BSP goes it alone in elections.'
Pandhe said the two sides have not discussed an alliance so far. 'Nothing has been discussed so far,' he said.
Another Left constituent, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), also ruled out the possibility of a pre-poll alliance with the BSP.
'There is no possibility of a pre-poll alliance with the BSP. No discussion was held on the matter,' RSP general secretary T.J. Chandrachoodan said.
However, Forward Bloc national secretary G. Devarajan said Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Chandrababu Naidu was continuing his efforts for the pre-poll alliance with the BSP.
All this is quite a turnaround from the scenario six months ago.
After withdrawing support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in July, 2008, CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan said BSP leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati was the potential prime ministerial candidate of the new alliance.
The Left parties, who have brought on board the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, now do not rule out the possibility of a post-poll alliance with the BSP.
'The party (CPI-M) central committee meeting that starts in Kochi tomorrow (Thursday), would discuss the strategy to be adopted in the Lok Sabha elections. Obviously, the issue of alliance with the BSP would also come up for discussion,' Pandhe said.
Pandhe refused to be drawn into specifics but it is obvious he was referring to a post-poll alliance.
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